Did you also like collecting pine cones as a child? You probably didn't give any thought to the function of the fruit back then. The properties and structure seem all the more interesting today. In the following, acquire knowledge about pine fruit that would certainly have amazed you even as a child.
Pine cones open in the fall and drop the seeds
Characteristics of pine fruit
The fruits of the pine are cones, which have the following properties:
- ovoid
- green when immature
- 3-8 cm long
- short stalked
- hanging, protruding when ripe
- open when dry
fruit ripening and seed formation
Did you know that a pine tree only blooms after ten to fifteen years? In addition, the fruits only ripen every other year. The fruit ripens in autumn from September to October. At this time, the small cones form seeds that initially remain hidden inside. The scales of the cones only open and release the seeds when it is dry. If you prick up your ears, you can sometimes hear a soft cracking sound as the fruits unfold. The cones either remain on the tree after they have shed the seeds, or they fall to the ground as well. The pine multiplies primarily through the wind. Cross-pollination is somewhat rarer.
From flower to cone- the difference between male and female pine fruit
When forming seeds, it is crucial whether it is a male or a female cone. The conifer is monoecious, meaning it has both sexes. The flowers can also be distinguished visually. The plentiful, cat-like, yellow flowers are the male variety. The females, on the other hand, have red buds. Only from them, after pollination, does the cone form, which later bears a seed.
Collect pine fruit
Would you like to use the seeds to grow your own pine tree? The best time to do this is on a dry autumn day. If the cone hasn't fully opened yet, place it in a dry, warm place at home to allow it to open and release the seed. If there are no cones on the ground yet, an upright position indicates that the coniferous tree will soon drop its fruit.