Cone-bearing plants

​plant in one word

​Coniferous trees feature two types of cones: the pollen cone and the seed cone. Some conifers have both cone types on the same tree, making it possible for the tree to pollinate itself. Cross pollination occurs when one tree produces only seed cones and therefore must be fertilized by pollen drifting to the seed cones from pollen cones located on other nearby trees

​A pollen cone is a male cone that makes pollen grains. The pollen spreads through the air.

​Pollen cones are characteristically smaller and wider than seed cones. Pollen cones tend to whither and die once the pollen within the cones has been released to fertilize the seed cones.

​The seed cone is a female cone that produces an

egg cell.

​Seed cones are commonly used to identify tree type because they remain on or beneath the tree for a longer period of time.