Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - May 08, 2015
From: LUFKIN, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: General Botany, Trees
Title: Brownish-gold worm-looking things on loblolly pines
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We have a large loblolly pine that each spring drops thousands of brownish-gold "worm" looking things (about 1/2 to 1" long). Do they have a name and what is their purpose?ANSWER:
These are the pollen-bearing male (staminate) cones or strobili (occasionally called 'flowers") that will fertilize the female (pistillate) cones to produce the larger mature cones with seeds on the Pinus taeda (Loblolly pine). Read the "Reproduction and Early Growth" section under Life History in the article from the USDA Forest Service manual and the webpage form Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation and here is a description from The Gymnosperm Database.
Below are some photographs from our Image Gallery of the male cones on loblolly pines
From the Image Gallery
More General Botany Questions
Increase in plant cell size when nuclei take on water
March 07, 2008 - Do plant cells increase in size when vacuoles or nuclei take on water?
view the full question and answer
More information on plants native to Taylor County TX
February 13, 2012 - Re: Thursday - September 15, 2011
QUESTION:
Am looking for direction to a complete list of plants native to the Abilene, Taylor County, Texas area (trees, shrubs, grasses, cacti and other plants ...
view the full question and answer
Plants addicted to caffeine
February 28, 2009 - Im doing a science project on if plants can get addicted to caffeine, but coffee in general and i was wondering what materials you need to figure that out.
view the full question and answer
Starting a sweet potato in water in Duluth MN
April 11, 2011 - I am trying to start a sweet potato plant in water. I noticed 3 days after it's in water, there is white finger
like(hairy) areas at the tip of the bottom of the potato and also on the sides. I have...
view the full question and answer
Help with Science Fair project from Danbury CT
January 12, 2012 - Hello Mr Smarty,
I was going to do my science project on weevils and their impact on milfoil. The weevils are in hibernation until spring and my project is due in mid-Feb. Any suggestions on a simil...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |