The term ‘living fossil’ was coined by Charles Darwin in his book, Origin of Species in 1859. Although definitions can vary, a living fossil generally refers to an organism that has remained in the fossil record for an unusually long time span with seemingly very little change. These organisms are fascinating case studies in plant evolution. Here are some of the living fossil plants that can be found in the Arboretum:

1)   Taiwania cryptomerioides                                                         Coffin Tree

This coniferous tree species is native to eastern Asia and is the only surviving member of its genus, descending from the middle Jurassic Period. The tree’s wood has historically been used to build coffins, hence its common name. A specimen can be seen along the southernmost end of the Pinetum Loop Trail.

Sloane Palmer

2)   Metasequoia glyptostroboides                                            Dawn Redwood

This deciduous conifer is the sole living species of the genus, Metasequoia. Although common in the fossil record of the Mesozoic Era, the genus was thought to be extinct until the early 1940s when isolated populations were found alive in central China. A few of these trees can be found in on the south side of the creek in upper Rhododendron Glen.

Sloane Palmer

3)   Sciadopitys verticillata                                                  Japanese Umbrella-Pine

This tree species is a unique conifer endemic to Japan and is popular in gardens around the world despite its slow growth rate. It is the sole member of the genus, Sciadopitys and has been present in the fossil record for about 230 million years. This tree can be seen along the eastern edge of the Arboretum, just south of the Giant Sequoias.

Sloane Palmer

4)   Araucaria araucana                                                             Monkey Puzzle Tree

This endangered evergreen tree is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. It is considered a living fossil due to the prevalence of similar species in ancient prehistory, with the earliest record of the genus from the middle Jurassic Period. A few of these trees can be found in the Pinetum, just south of the Wilcox Bridge.

Sloane Palmer

5)   Wollemi nobilis                                                                            Wollemi Pine

This coniferous tree was thought to be extinct until 1994, when a living population was discovered in Wollemi National Park in Australia. The most recent common ancestor of this species has been proposed to be at least 110 million years old, determined from the oldest reported fossils. A specimen of this tree can be seen in upper Rhododendron Glen along the Lookout Trail.

Sloane Palmer