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Story: Radiata pine

Female cone

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Female cone

Pine trees mature at 6–12 years of age and develop separate male and female cones. The female cones usually grow on the outer, higher branches of the tree. They take about two years to mature into a conical shape, 7–13 centimetres long and 4–9 centimetres at the widest point. When ripe, their scales open, releasing winged seeds.

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by Iona Wassilieff

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How to cite this page

Peter Berg, Radiata pine – A Californian import, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16828/female-cone (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Peter Berg, published 1 March 2009.