Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood Correction
In the book an erroneous statement was made concerning the above named tree that needs correction. On page 76 it says:
“ I have recently read that there is no tree in the Western Hemisphere that has so far produced any seeds”.
This wrong statement was arrived at by referring to antiquated citations found on the Internet and not further checked, which is entirely my fault.
The ironic truth is that there are two Metasequoia trees, which I have planted myself in 1949 in my home village in Hatzendorf,Austria. which are convincing proof to the contrary. These now 56 year old trees were profusely flowering in October of 2004, and carried large numbers of mature female cones.Also several seedlings of different ages were found around these trees as further proof of fertility.
I was told that these trees had been flowering for about 10 years; I just had not observed it before.
At more careful review of existing reports (Arnoldia magazine from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University) I have learned that indeed reproductive activity has been reported more than 10 years ago both on US and European specimens.
This is a branch from the tree on the right. The male flowers are at the end of the branch and the female cones, already opening located centrally on the branch. |
This is a 56 year old tree, profusely flowering in October. What you see are the male flowers.
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THE CORRECT STATEMENT IS THAT METASEQUOIA GLYPTOSTROBOIDES DOES PRODUCE FERTILE SEEDS OUTSIDE CHINA.