Native Plants

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.

rate this answer

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 Trees Questions
care of Red Oak seedling; Quercus buckleyi
October 30, 2007 - We purchased one of the Red Oaks seedlings for sale to members from the LBJ Ranch ($45). Now that we have it at home we are wondering about the care and feeding. We failed to ask any questions or pi...
view the full question and answer
Why do my Possumhaw Holly berries fall of in the summer in Euless, TX?
June 28, 2011 - My possumhaw holly has LOTS of green berries in the spring but they fall off in summer, so that I have only a handful of red berries in the winter. What is going wrong?
view the full question and answer
Large ash tree with round white spot on bark
July 21, 2008 - I have a large ash tree that seems to be fairly healthy. However, it has a large round white spot (about 18" diameter) on the bark, about 3' up from the base. Within the solid white circle the bark ...
view the full question and answer
Edible forest garden for northern Minnesota
March 07, 2014 - I am planning an edible forest garden for northern Minnesota. Can you suggest a list of plants that are native to this area. We are in zone 3a or 3b. Thank you!
view the full question and answer
Soapberry Transplant shock symptoms
July 21, 2006 - Please suggest a cause & cure for general yellowing of the leaves of Western Soapberry when planted in the ground 20 miles NW of Austin (thin, poor clay over limestone). Trees still in containers are...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |