Pine trees are conifer (cone bearing) plants like many others such as cypresses, cedars, firs and redwoods. There are various growth stages in the life cycle of pine trees. Each stage is as vital as the one previous to it. All stages are needed to grow an adult pine tree. The life cycle of a pine tree is a continuous one, with successful completion of the previous one necessary to move to the next stage. The life cycle of a pine tree consists of pine cones, pollen, seedlings, adult trees and finally death.
Pine Cones
Some pine cones are female while others are male. These cones consist of scales, with seeds hidden underneath. Each pine cone has many curved sets of scales that have two seeds on every scale. The scales at the bottom and at the head of the cone are smaller and do not contain seeds.
Pollen
Male pine cones emit pollen (a yellow residue) in the springtime. The pollen blows in the wind and comes to rest on female cones. This process is called pollination. As a result, the seeds grow inside of the female cone. Generally, it takes one and a half to three years for the female pine cone to mature after pollination.
Seedlings
In hot, dry weather the scales of the pine cones open and the seeds fall to the ground. The seeds typically grow in the springtime; anchoring roots in the ground bring in water. The pine tree becomes a seedling when a stem grows from the seed and up above the ground. As the seedling grows taller, it becomes a young pine tree. This means more roots will grow and in turn soak up more water.
Adult Pine Tree
The branches on the pine tree will eventually grow as it gets more sunlight, water and soil nutrients. The long branches are near the ground while the shorter branches are toward the top. These branches have sharp needles instead of leaves, and they tend to grow in groups. The needles contain water for the tree. Pine trees continually grow throughout the years. Some pine trees can live to be thousands of years old.
Eventually, as with all living things, the pine tree begins to decline in health and dies. However, it will live on and the lifecycle continues with its offspring that develop from the pine cones it produced.
Sources:
Exploring Nature: Pine Tree Life Cycle (accessed 12/6/2010)
BenchMark Education: The Life Cycle of Pine Trees (accessed 12/6/2010)
"Biology Demystified;" Dale Pierre Layman; 2004 (accessed 12/6/2010)
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