Summary
Highlights
The life cycle of a pine tree, a type of gymnosperm, begins with a mature tree producing cones. There are two types of cones: male and female, each with distinct roles.
Male cones are smaller, located lower on the tree, and responsible for producing pollen. When conditions are right, these cones release tiny pollen grains carried by the wind.
Some pollen grains land on female cones. Upon landing, pollen sticks to a sticky surface and forms a pollen tube, allowing sperm to travel to the egg inside. Fertilization, the joining of sperm and egg, then occurs.
After fertilization, an embryo develops inside a seed, which contains stored food. Once the seed is ready, the female cone dries out and opens, releasing the seeds into the wind.
If a seed lands in a suitable spot and conditions are favorable, it germinates, sending out roots and a tiny shoot. The seedling then grows into a sapling, then a juvenile tree, and eventually a mature pine tree, completing the cycle.