Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Why are pollen cones close to the bottom of conifers?

Pollen cones are close to the bottom so as to preclude the possibility of self-pollination. Nature has the tendency to further mix the genetic pool in order to produce heartier individuals. If the pollen cones were at the top, pollen would end up falling towards their own ovulate cones on account of gravity (thus self-pollinating themselves).



So in other words, the conifers, and organisms in general, try to avoid self-fertilization. Instead they opt to breed with other individuals to "evolve" their genetic information in hopes to create stronger offspring.

Why are pollen cones close to the bottom of conifers?
Are they?
Reply:A cone (in formal botanical usage: strobilus, plural strobili) is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta (conifers) that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the seed-producing female cone. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity. The name "cone" derives from the fact that the shape in some species resembles a geometric cone.



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



pollen cones are not present close to the bottom in all the species of conifers....it may be due to fact that pollination takes place by only wind in the case of conifers...not by animals or insects here....

DOG
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