In the male cones (staminate cones), the microsporocytes give rise to pollen grains by meiosis. In the spring, large amounts of yellow pollen are released and carried by the wind. … Female cones (ovulate cones) contain two ovules per scale.
Where are the cones on gymnosperms located?
In conifers such as pines, the green leafy part of the plant is the sporophyte, and the cones contain the male and female gametophytes (Figure 1). The female cones are larger than the male cones and are positioned towards the top of the tree; the small, male cones are located in the lower region of the tree.
Where does fertilization occur in cones?
When the egg cells are ready, the pollen grain enters the micropyle, an opening in the female cone near the ovule. The pollen grain germinates and constructs a special pollen tube so that fertilization can take place. One of the two male gametes produced by the pollen then fuses with the female egg cell.