Life Cycle of a Conifer Life Cycle of a Conifer TreeTree

Trees that grow cones are called Conifers.Trees that grow cones are called Conifers.

Have you ever looked closely at a pine cone? Have you ever looked closely at a pine cone? What do you notice about it?What do you notice about it?

Most coniferous trees have both male and female cones. Female cones contain eggs. Male cones are small and soft. They make pollen. Once the pollen is released, male cones shrivel up.

Female cone

Male cone

When the egg is pollinated a seed develops

The pollen from the male cone fertilzes the female The pollen from the male cone fertilzes the female egg to produce the seed inside the cone. egg to produce the seed inside the cone.

Cones are made up of many scales that serve to protect the seeds as they mature.

The seeds grow at the bottom of the scales. The seeds grow at the bottom of the scales. The seeds can grow for two years.The seeds can grow for two years.

Growing Seed

When it is time, the cone opens up and falls to When it is time, the cone opens up and falls to the ground. the ground.

Wind blows the seeds around. Small Animals Wind blows the seeds around. Small Animals like Chipmunks eat the cone and seeds get like Chipmunks eat the cone and seeds get spread even more. spread even more.

The seeds will lay in soil and be watered by rain. The seeds will lay in soil and be watered by rain. The seeds will grow into small plants called The seeds will grow into small plants called seedlings. seedlings.

The seedlings will grow to become small The seedlings will grow to become small conifer trees called saplings. These sapling trees conifer trees called saplings. These sapling trees are too young to produce cones. are too young to produce cones.

The small saplings take a long time to grow to be The small saplings take a long time to grow to be a mature Conifer. It can take as long as 70 years a mature Conifer. It can take as long as 70 years or more. or more.

Once the tree is mature, it will produce cones Once the tree is mature, it will produce cones again that contain the seeds and the cycle will again that contain the seeds and the cycle will continue! continue!