Metasequoia is a woody plant; let us introduce you to this plant, the metasequoia.

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970By Emily Carter 0 views

Metasequoia dates back to the Mesozoic Cretaceous period; it was previously thought to be extinct, but in 1941 this ancient and rare tree species was rediscovered in Sichuan. It is known as a "living fossil" and is a tree species unique to our country.

Other names for metasequoia

Shuisuo tree, scientific name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & W. C. Cheng

Family and genus of metasequoia

Gymnosperm, family Taxodiaceae, genus Metasequoia.

Geographical distribution of metasequoia

Metasequoia can be cultivated in areas south of Beijing, and grows well at the junction of the three provinces of Hubei, Chongqing and Hunan; its vertical distribution is generally at an altitude of 750~1500m.

Morphological characteristics of metasequoia

Metasequoia is a deciduous tree that can reach a height of 35m and a diameter of 2.5m, with opposite branchlets. The leaves are linear, decussately opposite, and form pinnate compound leaves; the upper surface of the leaf is pale green and the lower surface is lighter in color, with two stomatal bands of 4-8 pale yellow lines along the midrib. The bark of metasequoia is grayish brown; young bark splits into thin flakes and falls off, while mature bark splits into long strips and falls off; metasequoia is monoecious. The cones hang down, are nearly spherical, slightly 4-angled, and have long stalks; the seed scales are woody and shield-shaped, and the seeds are flat with narrow wings around them. Metasequoia blooms in late 2month, and the cones mature in 11month.

Growing environment of metasequoia

Metasequoia prefers warm and humid climatic conditions, and mostly grows in places with gentle terrain, deep soil layers, and moist or slightly waterlogged conditions; acidic mountain yellow soil, purple soil or alluvial soil are suitable for its growth; the optimum growth temperature for metasequoia is around 18°C, and it can grow where summers are cool and winters have snow but are not severely cold; metasequoia is light-loving and not tolerant of barren or dry conditions, and its growth rate is often governed by soil moisture; it is easy to transplant and survive, grows slowly in places with long-term standing water, and the base of the trunk is usually swollen and has longitudinal ridges.