Final answer:
The dawn redwood, belonging to the Cupressaceae family and native to Asia, is known as Metasequoia and is distinctive for being deciduous. It was first described from fossils and is endangered with a limited distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cupressaceae family includes various conifer species such as junipers, cedars, and redwoods. One notable member of this family is the dawn redwood, known as Metasequoia. This deciduous tree native to Asia was originally identified through its fossil record before living examples were discovered in the mid-20th century. Unlike its close relatives the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron gigantean), which are evergreen, the dawn redwood sheds its leaves annually. All three genera within the Sesquioxide subfamily of the Cupressaceae family are considered endangered and possess a limited natural distribution, despite having once been more widespread during the Cenozoic era.