Pinus – Male Cones

Male cone of Pinus

The yellow structures are the male cones of Pinus. They are found at the base of a new shoot. After they have released all of their pollen they wither and will eventually fall off. Pollen and seed cones are often found on the same plant, but rarely on the same shoot.

51M

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a close-up of a cluster of pollen (male) cones.

8565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A closer look:

8564

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinus male cone in longitudinal section

MALESTR

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pollen cone is bascially a modified branch. The leaves are microsporophylls. These modified leaves bear microsporangia which ultimately produce pollen grains. On the right is a closeup view of a longitudinal section through part of a male cone. Note the microsporangia which are found on the abaxial side of the microsporophyll. Each sporangium contains lots of little dots which are the pollen grains.

57CL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICRO

 

 

 

 

 

This is the microsporophyll. You can see on the left that there are two microsporangia per sporophyll. The left microsporangia in the photo is oriented so the top of the microsporophyll is viewed. The one on the right is upside down. The photo on the right is an lateral image of the entire microsporophyll. You can see one of the two microsporangia (pollen sacs) filled with bright yellow pollen grains.

MICROSP

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a pollen grain of pine. This species has air bladders. The mature pollen grains of many conifer species do not have air bladders.

57A

 

 

 

 

 

Male cones of other conifers

Chamaecyperis lawsoniana

8569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calocedrus (incense cedar)

8571

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxus (yew)

8583

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juniperus (juniper)

8577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEM ANATOMY

LEAF ANATOMY

REPRODUCTION INTRO
MALE CONES
FEMALE CONES
EMBRYO
PINE LIFE HISTORY IN MORE DETAIL

What do other Gymnosperms look like?

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