I also found a method to prepare the brittle cuticle of the fossil leaves. When I observed them under the microscope, I found exciting morphologies similar to the fossils.

In order to compare the leaf morphologies of the fossils and living trees, I climbed two Metasequoia trees to the top to collect samples. I was fascinated by the evolution of their leaf morphology and the immense beauty of their micro-morphology. Through these excellently preserved fossils I could travel deep into the ancient ages. They collected many Metasequoia fossils around the world, from the Canadian Arctic to Japan and from the Palaeocene to Pleistocene. She is a Metasequoia specialist and cooperates with Dr.

I became a PhD student of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2006, and did my Metasequoia research with Professor Qin Leng. Metasequoia growing near the Hunnewell Building Visitor Center at the Arnold Arboretum. They grow in front of the teaching building, a great example of Chinese traditional architecture, and they create a peaceful environment for study. When I became an undergraduate student at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China in 1999, I first saw real Metasequoia trees. At that time I knew its name was Shui-Shan (水杉, meaning “water fir” in Chinese). It looked so fresh and light, and quickly attracted my attention. The green, feather-like, leafy shoots were displayed against the clear water of a lake. Our first meeting was in a primary school textbook. Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood) is my favorite plant.