EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The female cone (megastrobilus, seed cone, or ovulate cone) contains ovules which, when fertilized by pollen, become seeds. The female cone structure varies more markedly between the different conifer families, and is often crucial for the identification of many species of conifers.

Detailed explanation-2: -The word “conifers” means “bearing cones.” Conifers are plants that use cones to house their seeds. Conifers are woody plants and most of them are trees such as pine trees, firs, cypresses, junipers, cedars, and redwoods.

Detailed explanation-3: -The male cones, which are smaller than the female cones, produce pollen. The wind blows the pollen onto the female cones, which then develop seeds under the scales. The scales slowly open until the seeds fall out. Wind or animals carry the seeds to spots where new conifers can grow.

Detailed explanation-4: -Virtually all conifers produce cones though the size, shape, colour and texture vary greatly. The Coulter Pine produces cones up to 50cm long and weighing up to 5kg!