Why Do Pine Trees Have Two Different Types of Cones?
All kinds of coniferous trees, including pine trees, produce cones but pine cones can only come from the pine trees that are part of the genus Pinus. These seed-containing pine cones are imperative for a pine tree to be able to reproduce. Pine cones contain edible seeds or nuts and are used in a variety of ways especially when it comes to decorating throughout the winter and holidays. Many people even enjoy munching on the nuts or seeds from a pine tree via the pine cones.
Many people know exactly what a pinecone is but do not know that there are two different types of pine cones and why that is and how it came to be. in this article, we will find out all of this information and more while answering the question of: Why do Pine Trees Have Two Different Kinds of Cones?
A pine cone is actually the reproductive structure of a pine tree, but pine trees are actually able to produce two different kinds of cones. One of these cones is a female and one is a male and like with any species, you need one of each to reproduce so this part makes sense when it comes to pine cones. On pine trees, pine cones are normally modified stems that have become cone shaped and needed for reproduction.
The female pine cone is larger than the male pine cone and it consists of a central axis as well as a cluster of scales which are also referred to as modified leaves which are also called strobili.
Why Do Pine Trees Have Two Different Types of Cones?
According to Britannica, the male cone is used to produce very tiny amounts of pollen grains that turn into the male gametophyte. each one of these pollen grains is then reduced to two or three small cells that are covered in a waxy protective coat. These grains boast wing-like structures that will allow the wind to carry them up to the tree to fertilize the female cones. deep inside the female cone, you will find ovule that will eventually develop into mature female gametophytes that actually contain fertile egg cells.
When these egg cells are ready to be fertilized, the pollen grain enters the micropyle which happens to be the opening in the female cone near the ovule. The pollen grain then germinates and constructs a very special pollen tube which is the place where fertilization can happen. One of the two male gametes that have been produced by the pollen will then fuse with a female egg cell. Once this union happens between the gametes, it then spurns the production of an embryo of the sporophyte generation. this embryo is surrounded by a tough seed coat there is on the inside of the cone that is used to protect the embryo in all of that is then encased in a papery wing material.
Later on, these scales will open up in the seeds are then blown away by the movement of air or wind. Under the best conditions, the seed will germinate and then grow into a new pine tree at another location nearby.
More About Pine Cones
According to Scientific American, pine cones tend to come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and shades of brown as well as other colors. They are either conical or cylindrical and feel and look as if they are made of hard wood but yet they are softer than tree bark and can even bend to a certain point. Many people can identify different pine trees just by checking out the pine cones that are hanging on them or laying on the ground beneath them. Most pine cones will have an overall cone style shape or even an egg shape while some seed cones from pine trees are longer and more cylinder-like and some even have woody spiny scales. Some of the smallest pine cones there are in nature are shaped like a barrel and have very large scales when they out decoding of them well the largest pine cone, which is the Coulter pine cone, is a huge oval-shaped scaly cone that can weigh up to a whopping 11 pounds.
While out hiking or even taking a walk through your neighborhood, you may see a lot of pine cones lane all over the ground but that does not mean they fall easily or quickly. Pine cones actually stay on prime trees for more than 10 years at a time before they fall to the ground. It is during that time that they spend hanging on the pine trees the seeds for the new pine trees are growing under the scales of each of the pine cones.
According to the Woodland Trust, the scales are used to protect the seeds from not only hungry animals but bad weather also, which can include snow, ice, and high winds. Eventually, the seeds will need to be released to be able to grow into new trees in other locations after the wind carries the seeds where they’re going to land and make their new home. To ensure that they have the best chance of finding very fertile soil so that they can grow into healthy tall pine trees, the pine cone scales stay tightly closed until the weather is no longer very cold or extremely damp outside. When the weather is hot and dry, the seeds have an easier time in their quest to find great soil for growing into trees so the scales will stay open which allows the seeds to escape and fly away to find new ground to populate into new trees.
The next time you’re out and about, especially during the fall time of the year when there are so many pine cones peppering the ground, pick up a few so you can investigate yourself and find the amazing seeds inside that can be produced to form beautiful new pine trees.
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