Tyler’s history has so many facets, whether it’s the Minshall/Painter/Tyler family, the historic buildings, the land or the trees. Tyler offers tree tours throughout the year, and it is a great opportunity to see both the historic Painter trees and the Champion trees living at the arboretum. Tyler also has a few trees with an incredible history – trees that may not exist except for the curiosity and dedication of a few committed people. This is the amazing story of the dawn redwood tree (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and Tyler’s special connection to its history.

A Surprising Discovery

Paleobotanists are scientists who study fossilized plants to understand the history of plant life, including the evolution of different plant groups and the conditions of past environments and climates. In Japan in 1941, Japanese paleobotanist Shigeru Miki examined tree fossils from the Pliocene epoch, about 5 million years old. Since the fossils differed from any tree previously described, Miki established a new genus, Metasequoia, due to the fossil’s similarity to the coast redwood Sequoia, and deemed it extinct. The Greek prefix ‘Meta’ translates to ‘like.’ This discovery was essentially unknown to the western world until after World War II.

In 1943, a Chinese forester named Chan Wang discovered unfamiliar large deciduous conifers near Szechuan, China, and collected some samples. Over the next three years, a few different scientists took samples of the trees for analysis. Initially, the tree was thought to be a new genus or possibly the common water pine. In 1946, after World War II ended, the specimens were compared to Miki’s paper describing the 1941 fossils from Japan. The Metasequoia tree thought to have been extinct for millions of years had been found alive!

From Japan to Tyler Arboretum

Word spread quickly about this discovery. Dr. Elmer Merrill, then director of Arnold Arboretum in Boston, took great interest in the Metasequoia and helped to fund a 1947 trip to China to collect seeds. Seeds arrived at Arnold Arboretum in early 1948. After keeping a share of seeds for their own collections, at least 600 packets of seed were distributed to other gardens, arboreta and universities around the world.

In 1948, Dr. John Wister was in his third year as the Executive Director of Tyler Arboretum. His many connections, awards and accomplishments in the horticultural world may have been key to Tyler Arboretum receiving two Metasequoia seeds from Arnold Arboretum. Our plant records show that the seeds were received from Arnold Arboretum in 1948 and planted the same year. One is growing near the Meadow Maze and the other in the Pinetum.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides fall seed cone display

Russet-brown fall leaves with seed cone

Male pollen cones are small (about 5 mm), rounded and clustered

Female cones are oval, about 1 inch long. They turn from green in the spring to brown in the fall.

A Unique Deciduous Conifer

The Metasequoia is commonly known as the dawn redwood tree in the western world. It is a fast-growing deciduous conifer. Most conifers are evergreen with needle-like or scale-like leaves, such as pines, spruces and firs. A very few conifers actually shed their leaves each fall. In spring, the dawn redwood’s feathery foliage emerges light green, then turns a darker green in the summer. By fall, the foliage is russet-brown before the tree sheds its leaves for the winter.

Other characteristics of the tree include a deeply fluted trunk with buttress roots, red-brown peeling bark and an opposite arrangement of stems and foliage. The tree produces both male pollen cones and female seed cones each spring.

Remarkable Timing

Making this story more remarkable is what was happening in the world at the time. In 1941, Japan and China were at war. It is surprising that the Chinese scientists even had a copy of Japanese paleobotanist Miki’s report. By 1949, foreigners were denied permission to visit China for the next 30 years, leaving just two years (1946-1948) for this discovery and seed distribution to be shared with the world. Finding and identifying the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is often cited as the greatest botany discovery of the 20th century.

Fossils have been found in areas such as North America, Japan, China, Greenland and Europe, some dating to the Eocene epoch (56 to 33.9 million years ago). It is the state fossil of Oregon.

Tyler Arboretum now has 19 dawn redwood trees, most within the 100 fenced acres. Thirteen trees are located in the Pinetum, and most are visible from the Scenic Loop. Closer to Tyler’s entrance you can see one below the Fragrant Garden, close to the fence by Painter Road. Take some time to feel the feathery leaves, find some seed cones and admire the fluted trunks of these wonderful ancient trees.

Tall straight trunk with fluting visible

Deeply fluted trunk with buttress roots

The display label of one of Tyler's dawn redwoods showing the full scientific and common names along with the country of origin

The accession label of the same Tyler dawn redwood showing ‘48’ as the year planted

Sources:

  • Oregon State University
  • Jinshuang Ma, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  • Arnold Arboretum
  • Photos by Dave Charlton and Nancy Heinbaugh

Become a Tyler History Volunteer!

If you are interested in joining our volunteer team to help uncover and preserve the history of Tyler Arboretum, please fill out our Individual Volunteer Application form and our volunteer coordinator will reach out to you! We’d love your help!

Donate to Tyler Arboretum

We rely on the generosity of donors to preserve and care for Tyler’s historic trees, buildings and landscapes. Click here to make a donation today!

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