AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The female and male inflorescence of the pine tree develop as cones on the sporophyte. The female cones (female strobili, singular strobilus) consist of megasporophylls that carry uncovered (Gymno = naked / exposed, hence Gymnosperms) ovules.

Detailed explanation-2: -Deep inside the female cone, ovules develop into the mature female gametophyte that bears fertile egg cells.

Detailed explanation-3: -The ovule of a female pine cone bears two eggs, an archegonium, gametophyte, and a nucellus. Before fertilization, the ovule undergoes many cellular divisions in preparation for the development of the zygote, most importantly, production of a haploid gametophyte generation.

Detailed explanation-4: -What is a pine cone? Pine cones are the woody fruiting body and reproductive organ of pine trees. Once pollinated, the tree’s female cones develop as the seeds mature and are usually conical or round shaped.

Detailed explanation-5: -Pine trees are gymnosperms, nonflowering plants that produce exposed seeds not enclosed in an ovary. They are monoecious, bearing gametes of both sexes on the same tree.