Flowering plants are characterized by their reproductive structures, their flowers and seeds. Pines, cedars, cypress trees and cycads are are in a group of their own, the Gymnosperms, because their seeds are not contained in a fruit that comes from the ovary of the flower. The Southern Red Cedar, on the right, and the Slash Pine, on the left are two common Gymnosperms at CHEC. The seeds of gymnoperms are an important food source for animals and birds.
The first picture shows the new needle growth emerging from the tip of the stem of the Slash Pine during the month of December. The needles grow in groups of two in this species.
The Slash Pine cones are formed from modified leaves that begin to grow near the new growth tip of the branch. Cones will be either male or female and are found on the same tree with the male cones usually found in the lower branches. The pollen is carried to the female cone by the wind. The sperm from the pollen travels to the ovules, which when fertilized will become the seeds. The picture show one seed on the left (the actual seed is at the bottom and the rest is a wing that helps it float away). The right-hand picture shows how two seeds are positioned on each cone scale. It takes about 20 months for cone to mature. At maturity, the cone dries out and the scales pop out to release the seeds. Unlike some pines, Slash Pines do not need fire to open the cones.
The Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is in a different family as the true cedars (Cedrus spp.) that inhabit the Mediterranean and Indian regions. The name comes from the aromatic, insect repellant wood that is used to line closets and trunks.
Unlike the Slash Pine, Eastern Red Cedars have male and female parts on separate plants. Male cones form on the tips of the leaves as seen in the picture. The female cones have the appearance of silvery blue berries when mature. I have broken open a cone in the picture and found one seed in it. Each cone will have one to four seeds and are a high energy food source for many birds and mammals including wild turkeys, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and coyotes. Seeds pass quickly through the digestive tract (usually in about 30 minutes) which facilitates their germination.
The leaves on a new branch start out looking like needles but, with maturity, will form scales.
