Three That Grew In Dinosaur Age To Blossom Here

Long believed extinct, a tree that thrived one hundred million years ago will again blossom this year at the Arnold Arboretum.

Seeds of the ancient metasequoia, which previously was known only through fossil remains, have arrived at the Arboretum from China and will be planted immediately to preserve the rare discovery.

Paleontologists have long known that the tree existed in prehistoric times, but not until 1946 were any living specimens found. Early that year explorers discovered three metasequoias in a remote valley of central China.

Trek Through China

Hoping to prevent loss of the species, the Arboretum organized an expedition to secure seeds from the trees. After three months of field work, which located 100 more specimens, the botanists secured an ample supply.

Only a few other trees now living, including the redwood of California and the ginkgo, are of such ancient origin.