17. Gymnosperm Cone- Male or Female

This is a picture of a pinecone. Pinecones are good examples of gymnosperm cones. Gymnosperm cones are seeds that do not produce fruits or flowers and that are not encased in an ovary. On pine trees, male cones are usually smaller and located at the tree tops, while the female cones are usually larger and found farther down. The female cones are bigger because they make the seeds but the male cones only produce pollen. The male cones above will release the pollen and it will stick on the female cones down below. After it has been fertilized, the zygote will grow an embryo that is inside a seed. Then the female releases the seed.