What is pollen cone?

Sexual reproduction in gymnosperms follows a familiar pattern. Pollen, which contains the male sex cells, is produced in pollen cones, which are essentially miniature branches with modified leaves called scales that house the male reproductive organs. Mature pollen is shed and carried away by the wind.

Where are pollen cones located?

Pollen cones on conifers are relatively small and often go unnoticed. They are usually clustered near the ends of branches and may be yellow, green or purple, but as they dry out they turn brown. In some trees, pollen cone production is so prolific that the tree takes on a brownish cast.

What do pinecones do?

But did you know that pinecones have a vital job? They keep pine tree seeds safe, and protect them from the freezing temperatures during the winter! To protect their seeds, pinecones can close their “scales” tightly, keeping out cold temperatures, winds, ice and even animals that might eat their precious cargo.

What is the difference between male and female cones?

Male cones are a lot smaller than female cones and their scales aren’t as open. Each scale in a male cone contains the pollen that can spread to a female cone to make a seed. While the shape of the cones can be pretty similar, different conifer trees within the same family can produce very different cones.

How is pollen different than a seed?

Pollens are very different from seeds because they are fine and powdery. They contain the microgametophytes or the gametes (comparable to the sperm cells) of seed plants. Like ordinary seeds, pollens can also have a hard coating for the pollen grain to provide protection during movement (pollination).

Can you explain why the female cones look different from the male cones?

Did you know that some cones are female, and others are male? Female cones are the big cones you’d picture when you think of pine cones. They have a seed in their open scales that becomes a new tree when it gets pollen from a male cone. Male cones are a lot smaller than female cones and their scales aren’t as open.

Are pollen cones male or female?

The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cone, which produces pollen, is usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity.

What is the most appropriate term for a mature pollen grain?

1. What is the most appropriate term for a mature pollen grain? angiosperms.

What happens when you put a pine cone in hot water?

The cells located at the bottom of the cone’s scales absorb water and that pressure is enough to move the rest of the scale forward. This amazing feature of the cone helps the seed come out when it is dry and warm and stay protected within the cone when it is wet or humid.

Is the pollen cone the same for all conifers?

The male cone ( microstrobilus or pollen cone) is structurally similar across all conifers, differing only in small ways (mostly in scale arrangement) from species to species. Extending out from a central axis are microsporophylls (modified leaves).

Where are the male sex cells in a pollen cone?

Pollen, which contains the male sex cells, is produced in pollen cones, which are essentially miniature branches with modified leaves called scales that house the male reproductive organs. Mature pollen is shed and carried away by the wind.

Where do pollen grains go after they are shed?

Mature pollen is shed and carried away by the wind. Lucky pollen grains make their way to the female cones, which are also modified branchlets, but are a bit more complex.

What are the individual plates of a cone called?

The individual plates of a cone are known as scales . The male cone ( microstrobilus or pollen cone) is structurally similar across all conifers, differing only in small ways (mostly in scale arrangement) from species to species. Extending out from a central axis are microsporophylls (modified leaves).