Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2000, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (专辑): 165-171.

• 专论与综述 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

New Research on Metasequoia

LIU Yan-Ju   

  1. (Beijing Centre for Physical & Chemical Analysis, Beijing 100089)
  • Online:2000-12-20 Published:2000-12-20

Abstract: Metasequoia Miki 1941 was established based on Tertiary fossil plant of Japan. There have been 21 species established including living one. A detail research on fossil vegetative and reproductive branchlets from Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene of Jiayin, Northeast China and comparison among 21 species uncover a great similarity between the species so that 13 species are attributed to M. occidentalis. Distributional data plotted on a plate tectonic framework shows distributional changes of Metasequia through ages. There are twice sharp drop on Metasequoia latitude plot at points of Eocene-Oligocene and Upper Miocene-Lower Pliocene, as identical to those conclusion made by other methods. Data on Metasequoia cultivation was analyzed to support that the plant was derived from a warmer condition than that of M. glyptostroboides. The outer feature of the plant shows a great variance, so does the cuticle. The experiments of cultivation provide techniques beneficial to Metasequoia's growth. The protection of M. glyptostroboides is expected a good procedure. Some new fossil finding maybe lead to species recorrection and the plant Origin discussion.