Gymnosperm Cone - Female

This is a picture of a female pine cone. Pine cones are an example of gymnosperm cones (male and female). A gymnosperm cone is the gametophyte (phase of a plant's life cycle) of the gymnosperm plants. Male cones are often found higher up on a tree and contain pollen that gets passed down to the female cone via wind. The female cones are found lower on the tree and will open and close to take in the pollen and release the seeds after. The cones in this picture are more open and is assumed to be female.