Pine cones

PINE CONES

Pine cones were associated in ancient  Rome
with the Goddess Venus. 

Pine cones are everywhere this time of year. We see them on wreaths, in baskets, door-swags, and of course on trees and lying on the ground.  Pine cones are painted, scented and sprinkled with glitter. My favorite way to decorate them is in their natural brown state. A collection of different pine cones displays their incredible structural designs and differences.

Pine cones come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making a collection of the
very interesting to look at.  

Pine cones date back to prehistoric times and scientists believe dinosaurs ate pine cones. The dinosaurs would then help spread the seeds throughout the environment as modern day critters and birds do today.

Although all conifers (Evergreen trees) produce cones, pine cones only come from pine trees. The pine cones come from a group of plants known as 'Gymnosperms'. These are plants which have exposed seeds, not enclosed like an apple.

Female pine cones hold their seeds tightly until the conditions for
germination are perfect. 

Pine cones play an important role in nature. The main function of a pine cone is to keep a pine tree’s seeds safe. When we pick up a pine cone it is impossible to grasp what an incredible propagation system they have.

Pine trees have both male and female cones. The males are much smaller and most people don't notice them. The cones we use for decorating are the larger female cones. The male cone releases its pollen and the wind blows it into the female’s cone to pollinate it. Pine cones can stay on the tree for ten years before dropping to the ground.

Pines can hold the cones on the tree for as long as ten years.

After the female cone drops to the ground it continues to open and close its scales to protect the seeds from cold temperatures, wind and even animals that might try to eat them. When conditions are perfect for germination, the cone opens and releases the seeds on the ground. Pines need sunlight to germinate so burying a pine cone will not produce a tree.

When using cones as decoration, I like to display the bottoms
which I find to be fascinating also. 

Some pine cones, like that of Redwoods, need a fast hot fire to open and release their seeds. This is called the 'Jack Pine' ecosystem. In dense forests, sunlight cannot reach the young saplings on the ground, so fire opens the canopy.  This thinning allows sunlight in permitting the young trees to become established.

Jack pines keep their seeds until a natural fire opens room
on the forest floor for germination and sunlight. 

Only 20 species of pine trees worldwide produce cones with large enough pine nuts for harvesting. The delicious seeds are produced in clusters on very mature trees. 

Pine nuts are used in salads, cooking and in pastry and cookies.
The difficultly of harvesting the nuts make them expensive.  

Pine nuts are a good source of thiamine (B1), vitamin K, magnesium, and protein. They are also one of the best natural sources for manganese, phosphorus and zinc.

Pinyon Pines which grow between 6,000 and 9,000 foot altitudes, offer the finest pine nuts in North America. Pinyon Pines are native to the desert mountains of California, east to New Mexico and Texas, and north to Wyoming.

Thanks to Michigan State University Extension Author: Dixie Sandborn, December 29, 2017 for the information in this article.

Wishing you a happy holiday season,    

 James