What is Metasequoia?

Metasequoia is a member of the Redwood tree family from China. Originally believed the extinct, the tree was called "living fossil" when living specimens were discovered in the 40s of the 20th century. Although Metasequoia is covered with their American relatives, it can reach 150 feet (45.7 m). Metasequoia is conifers, trees carrying cones with leaves similar to needle. The tree is sometimes called dawn or Chinese sequoia, water lark or shui shan. It became known as Metasequoia because of its similarity sedioia. His resulting report was interesting for students of prehistoric biology, but otherwise it attracted it at that time. A Chinese botanist named Zhan Wang discovered an unusual tree in 1944 in the Sichuan province. The Japanese occupation of China and other contemporary World War II prevented scientists from comparing data.

The war ended in 1946 and scientists were able to restore their research. Zhan's colleagues soon realized that the "shui shan" tree found in China is the same as the fossil that Miki PunEvil. The reaction in scientific circles to the discovery of this "living fossil" was similar to the discovery of Coelacant fish from 1938, another species long believed disappeared. Such "Lazarus species" attracted public imagination and focused on worldwide attention on a rare tree.

Metasequoia cuts have been taken and transplanted around the world, especially in China, North America and Europe, where it has become popular as an ornamental tree. This proved to be happiness, because after the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949, the new regime was limited by the huge stands of Metasequoia. The original cuttings have been removed from the fact that only a few trees and modern metasequoia suffer from the effects of inbreeding. The species is listed as critically endangered ”by the World Conservation Union.

Unusual Metasequoia status makes it a fascinating study for botany, paleontologists and other scientists. The tree was inspired by more than 300 scientific works until 2000. 1980 RegulationIt protected the tree from another harvest in China.

Metasequoia is still endangered by human intervention in its native habitats. Since the age of 90, new specimens have been exported to places outside China. Transplants were experiments of botanists and plant fans around the world to prevent Metasequoia from disappearing into the past.