Pine Cone Female Under the Microscope
Pine Cone Female (Longitudinal Section), Pinus
This is a lengthwise section of a young female pine cone stained with fast green. It shows where pine seeds begin, with ovules sitting on the cone scales.
A longitudinal section of a female pine cone or ovulate megastrobilus (Pine Cone - Female L.S.) stained with Fast Green. The central axis supports spirally arranged megasporophyll complex structures, each consisting of an ovuliferous scale bearing ovules on its upper surface, subtended by a small bract scale. Within the ovules, key gymnosperm reproductive anatomy is visible, including the integument, micropyle, megasporangium (nucellus), and developing female gametophyte (megagametophyte). This section demonstrates gymnosperm reproductive morphology and seed-cone organization.
What to look for
- Cone axis: The central stalk running up the middle of the cone.
- Ovuliferous scales: Scales arranged in a spiral around the axis, which bear the ovules.
- Bract scales: Smaller scales just below each ovuliferous scale.
- Ovules: Oval structures on the upper surface of the scales, near the axis.
- Micropyle: A small opening at the end of each ovule where pollen enters.
- Female gametophyte: Tissue inside the ovule that will hold the egg cells.
At each magnification
Low power (about 4x)
The cone outline with scales branching off a central axis.
Medium power (about 10x)
Ovules on the scales, facing toward the axis.
High power (about 40x)
The layers of the ovule and the micropyle opening.
Questions and answers
What does a female pine cone look like under a microscope?
A longitudinal section shows a central axis with scales arranged in a spiral. Each scale carries ovules on its upper side, and each ovule has a small opening, the micropyle, where pollen gets in.
What is the difference between male and female pine cones?
Male (pollen) cones are small and make pollen in pollen sacs. Female (seed) cones are larger and have ovules on their scales that become seeds after pollination.
- Category
- Botany & Plants
- Scan magnification
- 20x
- Stain
- Fast Green
- Tags
- pine cone female longitudinal section, Pine Cone - Female L.S., Pinus, ovulate cone, megastrobilus, ovuliferous scale
Viewing this slide in class
This is a scan of a real prepared slide, not a simulation or a drawing. On StudyScope you can pan from the whole slide down to individual structures, always in focus, and measure them in real micrometers with the calibrated ruler. Present it live and every student screen follows your view and annotations. Students join with a room code on Chromebooks, iPads, or any browser, with no accounts.