Can You Guess What It Is?

Here is a hint. This is attached to the twig of a Scotch (Scots) pine tree (Pinus sylvestris). The twig itself is bare and many people believe the tree has dropped its needles. But instead this is where the pollen cones were attached, and this is the last pollen cone clinging to the twig.

Very interesting. Thanks for the explanation Laurie. I would have guessed dropped needles but then I don't know a lot about trees.

Cool banner Laurie!

Great trivia info banner and perfect horizontal fit.

I'm somehow reminded of asparagus

Very cool subject matter. Well done.

I thought it might be a cluster of bugs.
Never occurred to me it's a pine cone! 😜

Do you have a pic of the tree?

Good job!

I think this is the original image. Some years the conditions are perfect for producing numerous pollen cones. After the cones drop, the bare areas are quite noticeable. Folks wonder what they can spray to kill the "bug" that ate the needles.

Laurie, thanks for interesting, informative banner.

I did research for a garden club presentation.

We were all surprised that there are male and female pine cones.

Is the pollen cone similar to a pine cone?

I can see where people think a bug ate the leaves!

Here's a few more pictures of pine cones.

These are the pollen (male) cones of Vanderwolf pine. This was taken in springtime. New needles are just beginning to grow at the tip of the twig.


I took the next 3 pictures today (Nov 20). This first picture shows a central bud (which will be the new pine shoot in spring) and surrounding it are pollen cones (male cones) that have a reddish, papery covering to protect them until spring. This is a ponderosa pine.


Here is another branch on the ponderosa pine showing a bud (upper left) and an immature female cone (lower right). These little cones on ponderosa have sharp prickles-- some folks call them "baby porcupines."


Here is a closer shot of the ponderosa pine cones--one is split open. You can see the sharp prickles, too.


And this is an immature female cone (lower structure) on a Scotch pine (along with three buds). On Scotch the female cones curl down (or backwards) along the twig. These are much smaller than the ponderosa pine cones.

Thank you to all of you for your likes, comments and acorns! This has been a fun exercise--I know a little about pines, but it was interesting to go out and observe the current state of the cones and get a few pictures.

@hiyall TT, The similarity is mainly in the shape: "cone-shaped." Male cones are just very small. The have "scales" like a female cone, but they are papery rather than woody.

Here is a picture of some old male cones--note that they have elongated. I assume that on some pine species, the male cones elongate and on others they don't. This is on a ponderosa pine. Usually the male cones fall off during the growing season after they have released their pollen, but in this picture, the cones are still attached---I think because the shoot above them died.

You know waaaay more about pines than I do, that's for sure!
Great info & images.

Thanks, Cal! I do like trees. And thanks for the extra acorns, too.

Thanks Laurie for pretty puzzle pic!
Thanks for interesting information and pictures of male & female cones

You opened my eyes to more seek and find on exercise nature walks!

You are welcome, TT.