The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is one of the best-known examples of a true “living fossil.” Originally described from fossil material and believed to be extinct, living specimens were only discovered in the mid-20th century, growing in remote valleys of central China. Remarkably, the modern species is nearly identical to its Cretaceous ancestors. As its name suggests, Metasequoia is closely related to the true redwoods. Like Ginkgo, Metasequoia was once widespread across the Northern Hemisphere and formed an important part of Late Cretaceous and early Cenozoic forests. Fossilized woodlands have been found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Because Metasequoia is one of the few deciduous conifers (shedding its needles in autumn) it frequently forms thick fossil leaf mats. This seasonal behavior may have helped it survive in the low-light winters of ancient high-latitude regions like northern Canada and Siberia. Other similar forms, such as Parataxodium and Drumhellera, also existed during the Cretaceous and were likely close relatives. Today, the Dawn Redwood survives only in isolated valleys, but this limited range is probably a refugium rather than a preferred habitat. Throughout its history, Metasequoia appears to have favored waterlogged soils, thriving in swamps, floodplains, and along slow-moving rivers.