SCIENTIFIC NAME: Metasequoia glyptostroboides

COMMON NAME: dawn redwood.

LEAVES: Deciduous and opposite.

BARK: Fibrous and peels up.

OTHER: Thought to be extinct until 1941 when it was found in China. Original seeds brought back from China planted in Arnold's Arboretum in 1950. Grows up to 125' tall and is fast growing. Can limb up or leave to the ground. Good tree for the eastern United States. Likes low/moist sites. A member of the Taxodiaceae family. Some of the largest specimen of this tree are on the Auburn University Campus planted from the original seed source in the early 1950's. Maybe the largest specimen in the USA was killed on the Auburn Campus due to being hit by lightning. Popular tree partly due to its interesting history.