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Pine cones. Practical work “Structure of male and female cones, pollen and seeds of pine. Measure the length of the cone

Everyone has probably seen what a pine cone looks like. Brown, woody, larger in size walnut. Under the old pines you can see a lot of dry, loose cones with protruding scales.

It doesn't have flowers - it never blooms. But she has strobili: male ones - microstrobili and female ones - megastrobili. Cones are called infructescences with seeds collected in them.

The life of a pine cone begins with the formation of a small, millet-sized, red ball. This is what a pine embryo looks like when it is only a few days old. Such an embryo appears at the end of spring, when young shoots begin to form from the buds on the tree. At first, these shoots do not yet have pine needles (needles). Instead, you can see peculiar short stumps, which are whitish shoots pointed at the ends. At the top of this shoot there is a small bump. In some cases there are 2 of them. It is extremely difficult to detect such a lump - it is barely noticeable. But even if they notice it, they are unlikely to guess what it is. It doesn’t occur to anyone that this little rudiment is big boss in future.

How young pine cones develop

During the summer, the Scots pine cone grows and by autumn it becomes green, reaching the size of a pea. It remains in this stage throughout the winter. With the onset of spring, its development continues further. The infertility becomes significantly larger. The size of the pine cone at this time is 2.5-7 cm. And at the end of summer it reaches its adult size (8-10 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width). By next winter it becomes Brown, quite mature, but does not open up. Its scales are still tightly pressed, so the seeds cannot yet spill out. They can do this only in their third spring, when the snow has already melted and the days have become dry and sunny. The fruits begin to dry out, as a result of which their scales protrude and the winged seeds fly out into the wild.

Scots pine cones

The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 15-30. This can be noticed by the appearance of small reddish bumps. These are female cones of Scots pine. Such a cone consists of a rod (axis) with scales located on it. On them lie unprotected, one might say, bare (hence the name “gymnosperms”) ovules, in which eggs are formed.

Male and female pine cones

If female cones are at the top of the young shoot, then male cones are at the base. Unlike female ones, male pine cones are smaller, oval in shape, yellow color and are concentrated in close groups.

The structure of male pine cones: the main axis with scales located on it. The underside of each scale has 2 pollen sacs. Pollen matures in these sacs, where sperm are later formed - male reproductive cells. After fertilization, the male infertility soon dies.

As you know, fertilization occurs only a year after pollen from a male cone reaches the female cone. During all this time, the pollen that fell on the ovules was in a state of rest. And only a year later it germinates, forming a pollen tube that carries sperm to the archegonia. As a result, one merges with the egg. Next, the embryo begins to develop from the zygote. And the ovules turn into seeds. The embryo itself is located in the tissue of the female gametophyte, where by this time a lot of nutrients. This tissue is also called primary endosperm. The seed is covered with a hard skin, under which there is a thin film. The film and peel are formed from the tissue of the ovule. They are diploid. The endosperm, as the vegetative component of the gametophyte, is haploid, and the embryo is diploid. At the end of next winter, the mature female cone will turn brown and reach 4-6 cm.

A mature pine cone is ovoid-conical in shape. It has a ripe seed with a transparent wing. When the scales of the female cone are pulled apart, it becomes clear that the seeds are located in pairs on the top of the scales. Thickenings are clearly visible on the scales gray- peculiar diamond-shaped shields with 4-6 edges that are curved down. Each seed has a wing that is needed to be carried by the wind.

Size, structure, density of pine cones and their difference from spruce and larch

It turns out that not every person will be able to distinguish cones from different ones. It would seem that they should be the same, but in fact all fruits coniferous trees differ from each other.

Pine fruits are drooping, located on a short stalk in one or several pieces. Their shape is cylindrical. 8-10 cm long, 3-4 cm wide. The scales are hard and woody. The apophyses have a vaulted-convex shape. At the top there is a convex, blunt navel.

The spruce cone is formed by covering scales, which are arranged spirally; in their axils there are 2 ovules. The shape is oblong-cylindrical, pointed. A mature cone is hanging, dry, woody or leathery. Length – up to 15 cm, width 3-4 cm.

The larch fruit is round, ovoid, or maybe almost cylindrical. Unlike pine, its seed is firmly connected to the wing.

In addition to shape and structure, the difference between pine and larch cones lies in their maturation. If pine cones are “ready” only in the second year, then spruce and larch trees ripen in the year of flowering.

They also differ in density. Pine trees are heavier than spruce trees. Yes, a bucket fir cones weighs about 5 kg, then pine 5-7 kg. On average, the density of a pine cone is about 600 kg/m3.

When to collect pine cones?

When to collect pine cones depends on the purpose of the collection. In the spring, after fertilization, the male cone dies, as well as the female “specimens” of the second year of life, which released seeds. Such “spreaders” can be collected throughout the summer. However, except for children's crafts and for decorative purposes, they cannot be used anywhere else. Although in Lately Quite often there are advertisements with sales of pine cones...by the bag. It turns out that they are used in gardening for mulching trees, all of the same coniferous forms. By the way, in the old days samovars were heated with pine cones.

But there is another, more useful use for pine cones. IN folk medicine Young pine cones have been used for a long time. The oleoresin they contain makes the cones effective for treating colds, bronchitis, joint diseases and even stroke. For these purposes, honey, jam, tinctures, and balms are made from them.

IN medical purposes They use small, resinous, green buds. For jam you need to take those cones that can easily be pierced with a fingernail or cut with a knife. As a rule, their length reaches 1-4 cm. You can start collecting them from mid-May and throughout the first ten days of June. From such young green cones, honey turns out to be an amazingly beautiful raspberry color. Its consistency is almost like natural. If spring is cold and late, with prolonged frosts and long snow melting, then the collection of cones can be slightly extended. Conversely, in a warm spring it is better to finish it in early June.

Using pine cones: ideas and photos

As you know, mulching is necessary to restore the unprotected soil surface, as well as to hide its defects. Lately you can often notice Pine cones under the trees in the garden. The advantage of such mulching is not only the naturalness of the material, but also its high decorative and aesthetic characteristics. In addition, natural natural material increases the physical and chemical indicators of the upper soil layer, and also activates the development of microorganisms beneficial to trees. Due to its porous structure, such mulch maintains an optimal level of humidity even during dry periods. Pine cones, as a natural material, provide the necessary temperature regime: in winter they protect the soil from hypothermia, and in summer – from negative solar influence and overheating. Mulching with pine material evens out daily temperature fluctuations in autumn and spring period, and also inhibits the growth of weeds. The soil under such material breathes and allows

water and air. Natural mulch regulates soil acidity and enriches it with oxygen.

In general, mulch made from coniferous tree cones has a lot of useful properties:

Aesthetically beautiful appearance plot;
Resistant to rotting processes and mold formation;
Since pine trees do not contain allergens, the mulching material is also hypoallergenic;
Mulch has antibacterial properties: wood-boring beetles do not live in it. Therefore, there is no need to chemically treat the mulching material, as is necessary to do when mulching with materials from other tree species;
Contains antioxidants - substances that help the body fight aging and the occurrence of various diseases, which is especially typical under conditions of radiation, stress and pollution. environment;
Contains natural flavonoids. Once in the respiratory tract, these substances prevent the occurrence of colds and viral diseases.

In addition to mulching and use for medicinal purposes, pine cones can serve as an amazing material for room design, crafts, etc.

A photo of pine cones clearly demonstrates their unusualness and beauty. You only need to use a little imagination and pine “spreaders” will take their rightful place in the house, garden, or country house. You can use them most different ways. You can even divide it into separate small petals and make some kind of composition. Or you can use the whole cones. At the same time, it is not at all necessary that it should be a New Year’s composition. There are many options, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

They can be used to decorate candlesticks, mirrors, paintings, make panels and other compositions. It is better to attach cone specimens using reliable glue, since the material is quite specific. You can simply cover the bumps with paint or silver. It turns out great new Year decoration. Such specimens look great in the garden as decorations. And sometimes they simply light fireplaces in country houses.

Cones are modified shortened shoots with lignified seed scales on which seeds are formed.

The cone consists of a central axis on which the covering scales sit. In the axils of the covering scales there are seed scales. Seeds are formed from ovules, or ovules, which are located on the upper side of the seed scales. In the evolution of conifers, there is a parallel process of gradual fusion of the covering and seed scales (more precisely, the scale-like megastrobilus), which ultimately leads to the formation of “simple and fused” scales, which is often called the “fertile complex”. As the cones mature, the degree of lignification increases. In some conifers, peculiar thickenings are formed at the ends of the seed scales. In pines, this thickening is called a scutum, in the center or at the end of which there is a tubercle called the navel. In junipers, the seed scales of mature cones remain fleshy, and the cones are called cone berries, since their formation does not involve the ovary, as in the formation of berries in angiosperms, but the seed scales of a shortened shoot, i.e. cones.

In the structure, shape and size of cones, conifers (see:) differ significantly from each other. These characters are called systematic, by which it is possible to determine not only groups of species by generic complexes, but also individual species.

12.1. The key to identifying conifers by their cones

1. The seed scales of the cone are arranged spirally 1

Seed scales are located opposite 11

2. Cones crumble after ripening 3

Cones open after ripening 5

3. The cones ripen in the autumn of the first year and fall apart 4

The cones ripen in the 2nd or 3rd year and scatter during autumn and winter. Numerous seed scales are spirally arranged, imbricately pressed, at the base with 2 seed cavities; the covering scales are very small, invisible from the outside. The cones are solitary, erect, barrel-shaped or ovate-elongated.

Himalayan cedar - Gedrus deodara L.

Cones are round-ovate, 30 - 40 mm long, 40 - 50 mm wide, reddish-brown; seed scales 2-3 cm long, loosely set on an axis, heart-shaped-lanceolate, with a distant, obtuse or bifid apex; the covering scales are rounded-lanceolate, pointed, finely toothed along the edge, much shorter than the seed scales, and protrude outward at the base of the cone.

Chinese false larch, or Kaemfera, -Pseudolarix Kaempferi Gord.

5. Seed scales with thickenings at the ends 6

Seed scales without thickenings at the ends 8

6. The scutellum is smooth, diamond-shaped or triangular in shape, with a tubercle, or navel, in the center or at the end.

Pine - Pinus L.

Scutellum with wrinkled surface 7

7. Seed scales have a keeled base, thyroid-widened at the top, the scutes are transversely elongated on the outside, narrowly rhombic, up to 2 cm wide and 0.8 cm high, strongly wrinkled with a weak transverse keel, depressed in the middle and bearing a point. The cones ripen in the second year, ovoid, 5 - 8 cm long and 3 - 4.5 cm in diameter, remain green until the seeds ripen, then brown, strong, woody, with weakly moving scales when fully ripe.

Sequoiadendron giganteum Lindl.

The cones are spherical or oval, reddish-brown, 2-3 cm long and 1.5 - 2 cm wide. They ripen in the first year, when ripe they open and for a long time are on the tree. The scutes are rhombic, 0.8 cm wide, strongly wrinkled on the surface, and short. The point in the recess of the shield falls off early.

Sequoia evergreen - Sequoia sempervirens Endl.

8. The cones are oblong-ovate, hanging obliquely on the elongated shoots of the previous year with rounded seed scales, with a three-lobed, strongly protruding middle lobe of the covering scales, which is longer than the seed scales both during flowering and in mature cones.

Liar - Pseudotsuga Menziesii Mirb.

Covering scales are entire, smaller than seed scales 9

9. The cones are round-ovate, located obliquely on short shoots, and after the seeds disperse, they remain hanging on the tree for 2-3 years. In mature cones, the seed scales are larger than the covering scales.

The cones are located throughout the crown, 2 - 2.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. At the ends of last year's shoots, small, more or less hanging, ripen in the first year, do not fall apart when ripe and remain on the tree for a long time. The seed scales are thin, rounded, the covering scales are much narrower, entire, finely toothed, slightly notched.

Canadian hemlock - Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.

10. Covering scales are visible only at the base of the cone and look like light tongues. The cones are drooping from ovoid to elongated cylindrical, open when the seeds are dispersed in winter or autumn, falling off entirely much later, ripen in the fall in the first year of flowering.

Spruce - Picea Dietr.

Seed scales are thin, without thickening.

11. The seed scales of mature cones do not become lignified, but remain juicy, bluish-black cone berries, ovoid-spherical in shape, 6 - 9 mm in diameter, with a brownish-green, resinous, sweetish liquid inside, surrounding 1-3 seeds.

Common juniper - Juniperus communis L.

Seed scales leathery or woody 12

12. Seed scales are woody, have petiolate bases, corymbose-widened outward, multifaceted, with a short point in the center, tightly adjacent to each other 13

Seed scales slightly woody, leathery 14

13. The cones are round-spherical, ripen in the second year, at this time the scales of the cones move apart and release the seeds in August - September in the second or third year. The buds are green at first, then shiny brown and grey. The cones are 2 - 3 cm in diameter, of 8 - 12 irregularly 5 - 6-gonal scales.

Evergreen cypress - Cupressus sempervirens L.

The cones are small, spherical, hard with thyroid scales, convex in the central part. They ripen in the first year.

Pea cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb.

14. Cones are oblong-oval, erect, sometimes bent, 10-15 cm long, of 3 - 4 pairs of brownish-brown, leathery-woody, narrow oval and at the top unevenly toothed seed scales, of which only 2 pairs bear 2 seeds. They ripen in autumn in the year of flowering and open in October - December, after which they fall.

Western thuja - Thuja occidentalis L.

Cones on short shoots, upward directed, 10-15 mm long, obovate-wedge-shaped, fleshy before ripening, bluish-green, later dry reddish-brown, with 6 - 8 opposite, ovate, hook-shaped seed scales at the apex, of which the upper ones sterile, the middle ones carry 1 seed and the lower ones 2.

Thuja, or eastern biota, - Biota orientalis Endl. = = Thuja orientalis L.

12.2. Key to identifying some species of the genus Abies by their cones

1. Covering scales are longer or equal in length to seed scales, therefore they are clearly visible in a closed mature cone 2

Covering scales in a mature cone are not visible, since they are shorter than seed scales 7

2. Covering scales are much longer than seed scales 3

Covering scales are slightly longer or equal in length to seed scales 5

3. Cylindrical cones 10-20 (25) cm long and 3 - 6 (8) cm wide. Covering scales are bent downwards, the central lobe is subulate.

Noble fir - Abies nobilis Sindl. The cones are much larger, the covering scales have a bent tip 4

4. Cones are large, blunt-cylindrical, 10-16 (20) cm long, 3 - 5 cm wide; brown, seed scales broadly kidney-shaped, pubescent on the outside; covering scales with a long protruding and backward bent tip.

European white fir, or comb fir, Abies alba Mill.

The cones are very large, 12-20 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, first green, then dark brown, for the most part covered with resin. Covering scales are linear-palmated with a rounded finely serrated apex and a long downward bent central filiform lobe. The seed scales are kidney-shaped or semilunar, sharply narrowed at the base into a wedge-shaped stalk, velvety on the outside. The cones fall apart in September in the year of flowering.

Caucasian fir, Nordmann -Abies Nordmanniana Spach.

5. Cones 5 - 6 cm long, 2 - 2.5 cm wide, reddish, then dark purple. The seed scales are hairy, kidney-shaped with a notched base with ears, sharply elongated into a narrow wedge-shaped stalk. Covering scales are thin (membranous), rounded, with a jagged edge and a long awl-shaped, downward curved equal seed scale, with a middle lobe protruding somewhat from under the seed scales. The cones fall apart in October.

Whitebark fir, or bud-scaled fir, - A. nephrolepis Maxim.

Covering scales of the same length as seed scales 6

6. Cones are cylindrical, 5 - 7 cm long, 2 - 2.8 cm wide, violet-purple before ripening. Seed scales are broadly kidney-shaped, wider than long, covering scales are bent back.

Korean fir - A. koreana Wils.

The cones are cylindrical, 6 - 7 cm long, 3 cm wide, at first violet-purple, rarely green, brown when mature. The seed scales are semilunar, entire, and ear-shaped on the sides of the stalk. Covering scales are the same length as the seed scales or have a barely protruding point.

Vicha fir - A. Veitchii Lindl.

7. Covering scales are short, no longer than 0.5 seed scales. Seed scales are wedge-cord-shaped with a whole or barely serrated edge and a long stalk. The cones are cylindrical, 7.5-12 cm long, 3 - 4 cm wide, light brown.

Whole leaf fir - A. holophylla Maxim.

Covering scales are half shorter than seed scales 8

8. Cones are oval-cylindrical, 8-10 (14) cm long and 3 - 5 cm wide, olive-green to purple when ripe. Covering scales are much shorter than seed scales.

Single-color fir - A. concolor Lindl.

Cones up to 10 cm long 9

9. The cones are light brown, cylindrical, with a blunt apex, 6-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The scales of the cones are broadly wedge-shaped, rounded at the top, with small teeth and a matte outer side, on which the covering scales are clearly visible. In September - October, the cones ripen, become loose, the scales separate from the rod that bears them and fall off along with the seeds, and the woody, vertical rods remain on the shoots.

Siberian fir - A. sibirica Ldb.

The cones are oval-cylindrical, 5 - 10 cm long and 2 - 2.5 cm wide; young dark purple, mature gray-brown, highly resinous. They ripen and fall apart in October.

Balsam fir - A. balsamea Mill.

12.3. Key to identifying some species of the genus Picea by their cones

1. The ends of the seed scales are wedge-cut 2

The ends of the seed scales are rounded and hoof-shaped 4

2. The cones are fusiform-cylindrical, large, hard, 10-15 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, at first light green or dark purple, in the mature state light brown or reddish-brown, glossy, with a woody-leathery obovate convex, notched along the edge, jagged upper edge, with truncated seed scales. They ripen in the flowering year in October.

Norway spruce or European spruce, -Picea abies Karst = P. excelsa Link.

Seed scales are leathery, cones are soft, light, smaller in size 3

3. Cones 5 - 10 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide; cylindrical, greenish-yellow before ripening, with thin flexible oblong-rhombic scales directed parallel to the axis of the cone; scales are grooved, wavy-toothed along the edge. They ripen in the year of flowering and remain on the trees until the fall of the following year.

Prickly spruce - Picea pungens Engelm.

Cones 3 - 8.5 cm long, 1.5 - 3 cm wide, young greenish-yellow or purple, mature light brown; the scales are loosely overlapping each other, leathery, thin, elliptical with a wavy-toothed or notched, as if chopped off, upper edge.

Ayan spruce - Picea jezoensis Carr.

4. The cones are long, fusiform-cylindrical, 5 - 10 cm long, 1.5 - 2 cm wide, light brown in color, the seed scales are obovate, with a wide rounded upper edge, streaked along the back, shiny.

Eastern spruce - Picea orientalis L.

Cones are cylindrical or ovoid-oblong 5

5. Cones are cylindrical, 7-10 (12) cm long, 2.5 - 3 cm wide, with convex, shiny, brown scales, irregularly finely toothed, the edges of which are rounded or truncated.

Schrenk's spruce, or Tien Shan, - Picea Schrenkiana F.

Cones are ovoid-cylindrical 6

6. Cones 4 - 8 cm long, 2 - 3 cm wide, with convex wide seed scales, with rounded and entire upper ends.

Siberian spruce - Picea obovata Ldb.

Small cones 7

7. Cones are ovoid-oblong 8

Cones are oblong-cylindrical 9

8. Cones are horizontally spaced or hanging, ovoid-oblong, 4 - 6 cm long, 1.5 - 2 cm wide, first bluish-black, then brown in maturity, shiny, with rounded at the upper edge and longitudinally finely streaked scales, fluffy to the base. The cones open in August.

Serbian spruce - Picea omorica Purk.

The cones are ovoid-oval, 3 - 4 cm long and 1.5 - 2 cm wide, resinous, purple and green before ripening, mature reddish-brown, with rounded, whole-edged scales. They ripen in September and fall in the 2nd year.

Red spruce - Picea rubra Link.

9. Cones are cylindrical, 3.5 - 5 cm long and 1.5 - 2.0 cm wide, light green before ripening, light brown when ripe; scales obovate-wedge-shaped, entire-edged, thin and elastic; the cones ripen in September and fall in autumn or winter.

Canadian or white spruce - Picea canadensis Britt.

The cones are cylindrical, 4.5 - 6 cm long, 2 - 2.5 cm wide; immature dark purple-red, violet or green, mature gray-brown with obovate-rounded scales.

12.4. Key to identifying some species of the genus Larix by their cones

1. Covering scales are longer than seed scales 2

Covering scales are shorter than seed scales or are visible only in the lower part of the cone 4

2. Cones 7 - 10 cm long and 3 - 4 cm wide, bluish-green or purple before maturity, orange-brown when ripe; seed scales are slightly notched on top, fluffy on the outside; the covering scales are wide, gradually pointed towards the apex, strongly protruding and bent back.

Griffith's larch - Larix Griffithii Hook - planting material.

The covering scales are slightly longer than the seed scales and protrude above the seed scales with an awl-shaped outgrowth 3

3. Cones 2 - 4 cm long, 1.5 - 2.5 cm wide, ovoid-conical, brownish, open slightly. Seed scales are slightly convex outward, on the back with longitudinal stripes, with a solid wavy edge narrowly bent outward, glabrous or with sparse pubescence; the covering scales are oval with a long subulate-shaped lobe protruding from behind the seed scales. They ripen in the first year in September, open in the spring of the next year and fall off after 3-5-10 years along with the death of the shoots. Cones often sprout into shoots.

Deciduous larch, or European larch, -Larix decidua Mill - planting material.

The cones are ovate-oblong, 2.5 - 3.5 (5) cm long and 1.8 -2.5 cm wide; seed scales are rounded or truncated, often bent back, finely hairy on the outside in the lower half; covering scales with long lanceolate tips, significantly exposed above the seed scales. They ripen in September and soon fall off.

Western or American larch -Larix occidentalis Nutt = L. americana Can.

4. Cones are relatively large, 3 - 5 cm long 5

Cones less than 3 cm long, small 8

5. Seed scales are dense, leathery-woody 6

Seed scales are thin, cones are soft 7

6. Cones 2.5 - 3 cm long, ovoid and oblong-oval, tightly closed before ripening, mature wide-open, light brown or light yellow, consist of 22 - 38 scales, arranged in 5-7 rows, seed scales broadly ovoid, entire. , leg-shaped, covered with reddish pubescence, dense at the base of the scales; the covering scales are hidden between the seed scales and are visible at the base of the cone.

Siberian larch - Larix sibirica Ldb.

Cones are 2.5 - 4.0 cm long, ovoid, and when the scales are open, round-spherical; the seed scales are strongly convex, spoon-shaped on the outside, densely covered with reddish pubescence in the lower part; the number of seed scales in a cone is 28-36 (70), the covering scales are shorter than the seed scales and are invisible in a mature cone.

Sukaczewii larch - L. Sukaczewii Djil.

7. Cones are round-oval, 2 - 2.5 cm long, consist of 45 - 50 (70) scales in 6 rows; seed scales are thin, fragile, with an edge bent outward, reddish-light brown on the outside, short-haired. Covering scales are half shorter than seed scales, lanceolate-pointed, brown-red. Ripen at the end of September.

Japanese larch, or fine-scaled larch, - L. leptolepis Gord - planting material.

The cones are ovoid-oblong or oval, 1.5 - 3.0 cm long, the seed scales are flat, bare with a barely noticeable notch, the apices are in 6 - 7 rows; covering scales are equal to or slightly shorter than seed scales.

Coastal larch - L. maritima Suk.

8. Cones 1.5 - 2.5 cm long, spherical-oval, obtuse, consisting of 10-25 scales in 3 - 4 rows; seed scales are bare, shiny, notched, cut off at the top, wide-open in a mature cone; covering scales are visible at the base of the cone and in bottom rows scales in an open cone.

Dahurian larch - L. dahurica Turcz.

Larch with intermediate hybrid characteristics based on the structure of the cones 9

9. Cone-shaped cones with clearly protruding outwardly curved seed scales sit on yellow stalks. Hybrid of European larch and Japanese larch. Broad-scaled larch - L. eurolepis Henry.

Seed scales are strongly curved downward along the edge. The cones are characterized by mixed characteristics of the original species of Dahurian larch and Siberian larch.

Czekanowski's larch - L. Czekanowskii Szaf.

12.5. Key to identifying some species of the genus Pinus by their cones

1. Seed scales with a rhombic or pyramidal shield with a navel in the middle 2

Seed scales with a triangular shield, the navel is placed at the end of the scale 11

2. Cones are lateral, 1 - 3, erect or deflected 3

Cones are apical, perpendicular to the branch or deviated 4

3. The scutes are flat, elongated-conical. The cones are mostly curved, 3 - 5 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide, usually remaining closed for many years. The scutes are flat, with a small navel, rounded at the end, light yellow in color, shiny, scales at the opened cones with inside brown, blackish on the outside.

Banks pine - Pinus banksiana Lamb.

The scutes are convex, the navel is small with a thin curved spine. The cones are sessile, elongated-ovate, very oblique and asymmetrical, light yellow-brown, 2 - 6 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide, remaining closed on the tree for a very long time. Seed scales are thin.

Lodgepole pine - Pinus contorta Dougl.

4. Seed scales no wider than 10 mm 5

Flakes more than 10 mm wide 6

5. Cones are single or 2 - 3 on downward-curved stalks, ripen in the second year, mature gray, matte, elongated-ovate, 2.5 - 7 cm long and 2 - 3 cm wide. The scutes are almost rhombic, the navel is small, slightly convex, light brown, shiny. The opened cones soon fall off.

Scots pine - Pinus sylvestris L.

Cones are 2 - 6 cm long and 1.5 - 2 cm wide, ripening in the spring of the 3rd year. The scutes are rhombic, flat or convex, acute-angled in front, the navel is surrounded by a black border. The base of the cone is flat.

Mountain pine - Pinus mugo Turra = P. montana Mill.

6. Cones are single, spherical, 10 - 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, shiny brown, ripen in the 3rd year. As the cone matures, the scales gradually fall off from the base and release dense woody seeds. The scutes are large, 5-6-angled, spherically swollen, with radially diverging cracks; the navel is large, gray, almost 4-angled, flat, highly lignified.

Italian pine, pine - Pinus pinea L.

Medium and slightly lignified cones 7

7. Single cones 8 - Cones in whorls of 2 - 4 pieces, less often single 9

8. Cones are sessile, ovate-conical, light brown, shiny, 5 - 10 cm long and 4.5 - 6 cm wide; the scutes are yellowish-gray, shiny, broadly rounded in front, convex with a meat-red or grayish navel.

Crimean pine (Pallas) - Pinus pallasiana Lamb.

Cones on short petioles, directed perpendicular to the shoot, ovoid-conical, 6 - 10 cm long, 3.5 - 5 cm wide, reddish-brown, shiny. The scutes are almost rhombic, flat, with radially diverging cracks. The transverse carina is slightly elevated, sharp, with a concave transversely elongated navel.

Pitsunda pine - Pinus pityusa Stev.

9. Cones on short petioles, deflected downwards, ovoid-conical, tapering sharply from above, 9 - 18 cm long and 5 - 8 cm wide at the base, shiny yellow-brown; scutes rhombic, transversely elongated, with a sharp transverse carina; the navel is large, elliptical, very prominent with a straight or curved spine.

Maritime pine - Pinus pinaster Sol.

Cones sessile or on very short petioles 10

10. Cones are oblong-ovate, straight or slightly curved, 5 - 8 cm long, 3 - 5 cm wide, light brown. The scutes are irregularly rhombic, shiny, red-brown, with a convex transverse carina; the navel is depressed, small, elliptical, whitish-gray. When ripe, the cones do not open for a long time.

Eldar pine - Pinus eldarika Medw.

The cones are ovoid, 5 - 7.5 cm long and 2 - 3.5 cm wide, shiny gray-brown. They open in the 3rd year and soon fall off. The seed scales are black-brown inside, the shields at the front are rounded, swollen with a sharp transverse keel, turning into a short navel spine.

Austrian black pine - Pinus nigra Am.

11. Cones that do not open, do not hang down 12

Cones opening, hanging 16

12. Cones are small, elongated-ovate, 3.5 - 4.5 cm long and 2.2 - 3 cm wide, first red-violet, then green, mature light brown, shiny, 3.5 - 4.5 cm long and 2.2 - 3 cm wide. The scutes are large, ending in a retracted and bent navel.

Cedar dwarf - P. pumila Rgl.

Cones are large, ovoid or cylindrical 13

13. Cones are spherical-ovoid 14

Cones are cylindrical, large 15

14. Cones are erect, light brown, 6 - 13 cm long and 5 - 8 cm wide, seed scales are dense, appressed, covered on the surface with short, stiff hairs. The scutes are thickened, large, up to 2 cm with a small white navel.

Siberian cedar pine - P. sibirica Maur.

15. The cones are first reddish, then purple, mature - brown, falling off along with the seeds in the autumn of the second year, 10 - 15 cm long and 5 - 10 cm wide; seed scales are finely woody, longitudinally wrinkled; scutes with a sharp wavy edge, large, triangular, at the end with an extended outwardly curved apex.

Korean, or Manchurian, cedar pine - R. koraiensis Sieb.

The cones are sessile, first erect, then facing down; 7 - 15 cm long and 4 - 6 cm wide, yellowish or light brown, shiny. The scales are thick, woody, strongly bent on mature cones, rounded at the end, with a dark, blunt navel.

Flexible pine, or s. Californian cedar, - P. flexilis James.

16. The cones are large on long petioles, 15 - 25 cm long and 5 - 7 cm wide, curved or straight cylindrical, initially green with a bluish coating, then light brown, resinous. Seed scales are thin and flexible. The scutes are slightly thickened, longitudinally striated, with a blunt dark navel.

Himalayan Weymouth pine - P. excelsa Wall

Cones are 1.5-2 times smaller 17

17. Cones are narrow-cylindrical, 1 - 3 on long petioles up to 1.5 cm long, curved, light brown or grayish; 8 -15 cm long and 4 cm wide. Seed scales are finely woody; the scutellum is large, twisted at the end, with a blunt umbilicus.

Weymouth pine - P. strobus L. See:.

Cones on short stalks, hanging, single or several pieces, cylindrical, 8 - 10 cm long and 3 - 4 cm wide, light yellow, brown. The scutes are yellow, arched-convex, thickened at the apex, with a small blunt navel. The open scales extend from the bud at a right angle, as a result of which the open cone reaches 8 cm in width.

Rumelian pine - R. reuse gris

Gasheva N.A.

The method of variance analysis was used to study the strength of influence of various complex natural factors on the variability of cone length of Siberian spruce growing in the Ural forest province. Shown, that greatest influence The variability of cone length in this area is influenced by the individual characteristics of the trees, the longitude of the area and the altitude above sea level.

Cone length as one of the diagnostic signs of differences in Siberian spruce ( Picea obovata Ledeb.) and European ( P. abies(L.) Karst.), as well as as an indicator correlating with important forestry characteristics of spruce trees, has been quite well studied. However, there is no generally accepted estimate of the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variability in bud length; the problem of patterns of variability of this trait in populations with different levels of genetic heterogeneity has not been studied (for example, in sympatric populations of two species of spruce on the East Russian Plain and eastern populations of Siberian spruce), comprehensive explanations have not been given for some contradictory data on the variability of cone length (high correlation coefficient between the length of the cone and the shape of the seed scales in the western part of the range and the absence of such a correlation in the eastern; different ratios of intracrown and intrapopulation variability according to the data different researchers). In our opinion, an ecological approach can make a significant contribution to the study of the patterns of variability of this trait, when the processes of variability are compared with the action of a complex of biotic and abiotic factors acting on certain territory, as well as a mathematical assessment of the action of these factors.

The purpose of this work is to mathematically evaluate the contribution various factors in the variability of cone length in the Urals.

Study area, material, methodology

Studies of the length of the cone of spruce growing in the Urals were carried out in a geographical area defined by coordinates from 560 east. up to 650 east and from 610 N. up to 550 N latitude (i.e. in areas excluding pessimistic living conditions). Approximately between 560 and 570 east longitude lies the border of the East Russian and Ural forest provinces. It is believed that to the east of this border, Norway spruce no longer occurs, and to the west, hybrids between Norway spruce and Siberian spruce predominate.

Cones were collected in the vicinity of 30 geographical locations. At each point, 100 trees were examined (one “typical” cone per tree). To determine the relationship between the share of genetic and environmental factors in the total variability of cone length, we collected 20-30 cones from 10-25 trees in four forest stands: Nyrob (56 0 45` E, 60 0 45` N), Shalya ( 580 40` E 570 20` N), Talitsa (63 0 45` E 57 0 00` N), Chembakchino (69 0 55` E 60 0 07` northern latitude), distant from each other by east direction from the western to the eastern border of the Ural forest vegetation province.

The accounting of forest types was carried out according to Sukachev.

Altitude above sea level and geographic coordinates were determined from the map. The strength of influence of various factors was studied by analysis of variance using the application package for a personal computer STATAN-96.

Research results and discussion

Our research has shown that the average length of a spruce cone in this area is 70.6 mm. The range of variability of average indicators ranged from 63.0 mm (Talitsa 63 0 45' E 57 0 00' N) to 77.0 mm (Shchuchye Lake 56 0 30' E to 56 0 20' N .sh.). The interpopulation coefficient of variation of the average cone length of spruce trees from the indicated region of the Urals turned out to be very low and amounted to 6.1±0.81%; the intrapopulation coefficient of variation ranged from 8.7% (Chusovoy, linden spruce forest) to 14.9% (Kytlym), intracrown - from 6% to 12%.

Data on the type of distribution of average values of cone length showed the presence of a significant negative kurtosis, which may indicate the existence of disruptive selection in two different directions based on cone length in the studied area. One maximum indicated a cone length of 66 mm, the other 74 mm. Such selection can only be based on genetic differences between individuals. Comprehensive natural factors, influencing the direction of selection can be considered geographical position populations (latitude and longitude of the area), forest type, and conditions formed by certain altitudes above sea level.

Analysis of variance carried out for all of the above factors confirmed that the null hypothesis of a random difference in cone length in the Urals is rejected, and the contribution of each of these factors is reliable and ranges from 11 to 70% (table).

Analysis of variance for the factor of belonging to different micropopulations was carried out simultaneously across 30 gradations, corresponding to 30 cone collection points in the Urals. It turned out that the influence of the factor of belonging to different micropopulations is 18%, i.e. only a small percentage of the studied micropopulations differ significantly in cone length.

Since the cone length indicator is recognized as environmentally labile, it is important to assess the degree of influence of forest type on the variability of this indicator. To do this, using the analysis of variance method, we studied 3 gradations (spruce sorrel forest, E. lindenwood and E. long-moss) and 5 gradations (sphagnum spruce forest, E. primrose, E. sorrel forest, E. lindenwood, E. long-moss). All forest types were studied in one geographical area in the vicinity of the city of Chusovoy.

In the analysis of variance of this combination of forest types, it turned out that when forest types similar in their characteristics are analyzed, the influence of this factor is insignificant - 2.7% (analysis in 3 gradations), but significant; when analyzing 5 gradations, with the participation of sphagnum spruce, the strength of the influence of forest type increases to 21%. Differences in the length of the cone are significant in all combinations with E. sphagnum, as well as in the pair E. primordial E. linden. Thus, the influence of forest types (even slightly different ones) on the length of the cone is beyond doubt.

To study the strength of the influence of the longitude and latitude of the area on the length of the cone, two gradations by the longitude of the area, corresponding to 2 groups of micropopulations located to the west and east of 58 0 E, and two gradations by the latitude of the area, corresponding to two groups of micropopulations, were studied using two-factor analysis of variance , located to the south and north of 58 0 N. The strength of the influence of the longitude of the area on the length of the cone is reliable and amounts to 31%; The strength of the influence of local latitude is also reliable and equal to 11%. Such a strong influence of the longitude of the area can be explained by the fact that almost along the entire length of the Ural ridge, its axial line runs meridionally, and this affects the distribution of meteorological elements and cannot but affect the free exchange of genetic information between groups of spruce trees located to the west and east of the watershed.

Table. Power of influence various factors the length of a spruce cone

	The power of influence	f-test	Degree of freedom	Degree of freedom
Individual characteristics of spruce trees
Belonging to different micropopulations

Longitude of the area
Latitude of the area

Despite the predominance of low altitudes in the middle part of the Urals, altitude above sea level contributes to the non-random variability of spruce cone length in the studied area. We identified 5 gradations in height above sea level throughout the entire studied territory: 1 to 100 m inclusive; 2 - up to 200 m; 3 to 300 m; 4 to 400 m; 5 more than 400. One-factor analysis of variance of the influence of altitude above sea level with the above grouping of data showed that the strength of the influence of altitude above sea level in the studied region is reliable and amounts to 34%. These data were compared with the effect of higher altitudes on cone length. To do this, we used field material collected by a group of Dr. S.N.Sannikov in the high mountain parts of the Middle Urals. 5 gradations of heights were identified on Kosvinsky Kamen: 200 m, 300 m, 400 m, 800 m and 900 m. In each gradation, from 85 to 100 trees were studied. In this case, the influence of the area’s altitude above sea level turned out to be even greater and amounted to 55%.

The length of the cone, changing under the influence of environmental conditions, is also quite determined genetically. Studying the relationship between the variability of cone length within the crown of a tree and between trees of the same population, we found that the individual characteristics of trees in the western part of the study area (Nyrob - on the border of the East Russian and Ural forest provinces) determine the variability of cone length by 70%, and in the eastern part by about 40%. %, which can be explained by the lower genetic heterogeneity of the eastern populations of spruce, remote from the zone of intense introgressive hybridization.

Thus, the use of analysis of variance made it possible to identify a set of factors on which the variability of spruce cone length in the Ural forest vegetation province depends.

It turned out that in the studied area the main factors determining statistically significant differences in spruce cone length are the individual characteristics of the trees, altitude above sea level and longitude of the area.

Literature

Gashev S.N. Statistical analysis for biologists. Tyumen: Tyumen State University Publishing House.1998.51 p.
Kurnaev S.F. Forest zoning of the USSR. M.: Science. 1973.203 p.
Lakin G.F. Biometrics. M.: graduate School. 1990. 352 p.
Mamaev S.A. Forms of variability of woody plants. M.: Science. 1972. 289 p.
Melekhov I.S. Forestry. M.: Forestry industry. 1980. 406 p.
Popov P.P. Spruce in eastern Europe and Western Siberia. Novosibirsk: Science. 1999.167 p.
Pravdin L.F. Norway spruce and Siberian spruce in the USSR. M.: Science. 1975. 176 p.
Handbook on the climate of the USSR. Vol. 9, part 4. Leningrad: Gidrometeoizdat. 1968. 372 p.

Bibliographic link

Gasheva N.A. INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS FACTORS ON THE LENGTH OF THE URAL SPRUCE CONE // Advances in modern natural science. – 2003. – No. 8. – P. 18-20;
URL: http://natural-sciences.ru/ru/article/view?id=14727 (access date: 01/19/2020). We bring to your attention magazines published by the publishing house "Academy of Natural Sciences"

The very name “gymnosperms” indicates the vulnerability of the seeds of these plants. Scientists believe that gymnosperms originated from ancient extinct heterosporous seed ferns, the imprints of which are found in the deep layers of the earth’s crust. Gymnosperms are the most ancient group seed plants. They appeared on Earth over 350 million years ago, long before the emergence of angiosperms. This was preceded by several important evolutionary events that occurred during the Devonian period: heterosporous arose, cambium and woody forms appeared. The flowering of the gymnosperm flora dates back to the end of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. This was the era of mountain building, when the continents rose and the climate became drier. From the middle Cretaceous period gymnosperms began to be replaced by flowering plants.

What to do. Find male cones on the pine branch (they are yellow in color).

What to do. Find pollen.