Word: metasequoias
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Unlike most conifers the Metasequoia has its leaves arranged on exactly opposite sides of the stalk instead of alternating. The cones are small like those of the hemlock or larch...
Local skiing enthusiasts are not the only ones who hope for a long, hard winter; Merrill wants to see if the Metasequoia can stand a Northern habitat. Ideally the Metasequeia grows best in humid regions--Chapel Hill. North Carolina, now holds the record for height here with a 12 and a half foot specimen Shropshire, England, beasts the largest plantation with 2,000 trees...
Economically the Metasequoia's value is still undetermined. The Chinese use it for construction purposes: Merrill thinks it may take the place of the white pine as a timber crop in countries where light lumber is scarce--especially in England and New Zealand and perhaps southeastern Australia. South Africa and certain parts of South America...
...Metasequoia is easy to grow and propagation from cuttings is child's play. Merrill claims that "anyone who can root geranium cuttings can raise Metasequoias." One professor ran some branches through an ordinary meet-grinder and found a very high percentage of them took root. "It is the easiest cornifer to propagate by soft or hardwood cuttings," according to Merrill...
Unfortunately the future of Metasequoia is still in doubt. The original source of this possible timber crop is limited to only 800 square miles. Roscoe Pound, former Dean of the Law School helped organize a group to preserve the Metasequoia valley as a National Park. "Maybe the Metasequoias will survive better under the new Chinese regime," Merrill commented hopefully, "the Nationalists were cutting them heavily...