Physical
Characteristics
The
Metasequoia looks like an evergreen, but has deciduous needles. It is similar in appearance to the Bald
Cypress. It typically grows in a perfect
pyramidal or conical shape. It has a straight
orange-red to brown trunk and wide spreading crown. The trunk tapers and thickens quickly with
about 8-12 large buttress-like root flares that extend several feet up the
tree. The Metasequoia usually grows to
be about 50-90 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide.
Its needle leaves are usually a half-inch and are soft, light green and
feathery and turn a copper color in the fall before they drop. Unisexual flowers on these trees are produced
in early spring while the leaves appear are not showy. Male flowers are yellow, while female flowers
are green. On the long stalks there are
dark brown elongated cones that are about 18-25 mm long.
Picture on this page taken from http://taggart.glg.msu.edu/bot335/redwood5.htm
