Topic #7: Female Cone Morphology

• Female cones are also called Seed Cone and Pistillate Cone
• Ovuliferous Scale

  • have Hairs, Papillae, Seed Scar (impression), and Scale Scar at the abaxial
• Identify the parts:

  A) umbo

  B) cone axis

  C) sterile bract

  D) ovule

  E) ovuliferous scale

  
• Bract

  • sterile, reduced scale for protection
• Prominent Bract

  • Pseudotsuga and Abies (variable)
• Reduced or Fused to Scale Bracts

  • Picea, Pinus, Tsuga, Thuja, Taxodium, and Sequoia have reduced or fused to scale bracts
• Umbo

  • distal part of a scale
  • terminal umbo - raised and not pointed part
  • dorsal umbo - flattened part
• Sealing Band

  • some species have scales that are attached to the main axis of the cone
• Resin requires surface burning so that it will liquify and scales open to release seeds.
• Burning is an integral part of pine forest management
• Apophysis

  • region where Umbo and Spine or Prickle are found
• Identify (Cone Scale)

  A) sealing band

  B) dorsal umbo

  C) dorsal umbo

  D) terminal umbo

  
• There are 2 manners of attachment of seed to wing: Adnate and Articulate
• Adnate - appressed to surface of wing.

  Articulate - wing is concave and has a space for seed. It is likened to Acetabulum in bones.
• ADAXIAL AND ABAXIAL

  Name: Abies lasiocarpa

  Characteristics:

  • adaxial distal surface hairy
  • large free bract
  • seed scars

  A) adaxial

  B) abaxial

  
• Seed Scars

  • where the seed used to be
• Name: Picea glauca

  Characteristics:

  • hairy
  • bract short blunt
  • widest 1/2 - 2/3 from base
  • seed scars

  
• Name: Pinus banksiana

  Characteristics:

  • distinct seed scar
  • bract broadly attached

  
• Name: Pinus flexilis

  Characteristics:

  • seed scars abaxial
  • very thick apophysis
  • umbo distinct

  
• Name: Pinus ponderosa

  Characteristics:

  • prominent umbo & spine
  • faint seed scar
  • fused bract

  
• Name: Pseudotsuga menziesii

  Characteristics:

  • hairy
  • distinct seed scar
  • bract protrudes

  
• Name: Tsuga canadensis

  Characteristics:

  • hairy
  • seed scar
  • short serrated bract