Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do conifers reproduce using cones?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
plant
Grandidier's baobas (Adansonia grandidieri) in Madagascar.
Conifers reproduce using two distinct types of cones, which serve as the reproductive organs for these gymnosperms.12
- Pollen Cones (Microstrobili): These "male" structures are typically small and consist of scales that bear microsporangia. These sporangia produce pollen in vast quantities.1
- Seed Cones (Megasporangiate Strobili): These "female" structures contain the ovules. In most conifers, these are compound structures where each cone scale is associated with an ovule.1
The Reproductive Process:
Conifers rely on wind for pollination. Pollen grains are carried by the wind to the female cones. In many species, the ovules exude a pollination droplet that captures the pollen; as the droplet is withdrawn, the pollen is pulled into the ovule to initiate fertilization. Once fertilization occurs, the seeds develop within the protective scales of the seed cone.312
In many species, these cones remain closed to protect the developing seeds, often opening only under specific environmental conditions—such as the heat from a forest fire—to release the seeds for germination.4