Conifer cone

A confier cone, or pine cone, is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta (conifers). It is the part of a tree that lets the tree reproduce. Its name in botany is strobilus, plural strobili.^[1]

Female fir cone

Juniper "berries", which are used to flavor gin, are actually modified cones

Berry-like yew cone. Yew cones are the most modified of all

Mature female Pinus coulteri cone

Young cones of a blue spruce

Male cone of Cedar of Lebanon

The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which makes seeds. The male cones, which make pollen, are usually smaller and much less easy to see, even when fully grown. The smaller plates of a cone are known as scales.

The male cone (microstrobilus or pollen cone) is similar across all conifers, differing only in small ways across each species, mostly in scale arrangement. Extending out from a central axis are microsporophylls (modified leaves). Under each microsporophyll is one or many microsporangia (pollen sacs).

Conifer cones and their seeds have been used for lots of different purposes. They are often used for decorations.^[2] Some seeds, such as the seeds of pinyon pines, are used in prepared foods and baking.

Most mature cones are closed when wet and open when dry. In a few species, it takes fire to open the cones.^[3]