Forests present a winter cone-undrum

Island Wild for Fri. Jan. 15, 2010

Western Redcedar cones resemble a small wooden flower. Photo Karalyn Hubbard.

Winter woodlands are chock-full of cones, but not the creamy summertime treats. Forest cones –dry, scaly, and brown – (botanically referred to as strobili, single strobilus) are organs on conifer plants containing the reproductive structures.

Cone-bearing trees developed on earth about 300 million years ago, making conifers some of the most successful plants in the world. A conifer is a category of evergreen tree with needle-like leaves (Sitka spruce, pines, firs, hemlocks) or scale-like leaves (cedar and juniper).

The term “pinecone” is often used to describe any species of cone, but it’s more accurate to include the tree’s name (spruce cone, Douglas-fir cone, cedar cone, hemlock cone, etc.).

Conifer trees bear both male and female cones – usually on the same plant. The more recognizable woody cones (females) produce seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, look very different and may be difficult to see. Always the clever one, Mother Nature positioned the female cones on the higher branches, a configuration thought to improve chances of cross-fertilization.

Although cones may be brown, dry and common, they are far from boring. Complex factors lead to remarkable variations in size, shape, and colour. Cones can be tiny or huge, and cylindrical, egg- or cone-shaped. Together with needles and bark, cones help identify different conifer tree species.

The term ‘scale’ doesn’t usually conjure up images of pine cones, but all conifer cones have scales. Many species have overlapping scales (individual plates) spirally-arranged in one of nature’s most beautiful configurations. Some cones close their scales when wet and open when dry, over and over again, a mechanism that assures seed dispersal by wind in dry weather.

Children love to collect pine cones – and the more different species they can find, the better. Cones are not perishable, so they can decorate a child’s shelf forever, and when the novelty of the cone wanes, they can be tossed to the backyard birds.

You don’t have to be a conehead to appreciate cones, and cone-hunts should be on the agenda for all winter family outings. Mid-winter is a great time for a woodland walk in search of cones, and it’s not difficult to find half a dozen different kinds on most nature trails.

Photo source: http://karalynhubbardphotography.blogspot.com.