2013-01-12 Vienna, district III., Schweizergarten, cultivars - Excursion Fischer (198 msm Quadrant 7864/1).German name: UrweltmammutbaumNative of China, and discovered only in the early 1940ies (but correctly identified not before the late 1940ies); it is a 'living fossil' inasmuch it is the only remaining living species of Metasequoia genus, and as its fossil predecessor was known before the living species has been found.From the late 1940ies onwards, botanical gardens all over the world tried to get some seedlings, and so did park gardeners, like the city gardeners of Vienna. M. glyptostroboides now is growing (in small numbers) in some Viennese parks.
In my family's garden at Mt Tomah, NSW. Planted c. 30 years ago, now about 60 ft/18 m tall, but has not yet produced cones. One of the most beautiful conifers I know.