Look up the next time you pass a pine treein Michiana — chances are it's loaded with cones.
Conditions this season are ripe for an abundance of these woodyreproductive organs of pine trees, and they'll soon fallto the ground in both urban and forested areas.
Why so many?Lindsey A. Purcell, urban forestry specialist with Purdue University's Forestry and Natural Resources Department, said some of the abundance could be the natural two-year, cone-producing cycle of conifers.
One year there's few, if any, cones, whilethe following year the trees go into a seed-producing frenzy.
But more pine cones can alsomean the trees are producing more reproductiveseeds as a way to deal with the stress of a dry or changing climate.
It's a matter of survival: The tougher, drier the season, the stronger the urge for the trees to reproduce through seedsso the species can survive.
"Drought conditions creates stress, and a lack of water seems to be an important stressor," Purcell said.
Central Indiana has drought conditions this season, but northern Indiana areas near South Bend have fared better.
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Trees have male and female cones. The males produce the pollen, while the female cones are often seen in the upper portions of conifers and hold the seeds that propagate the species.
Once pollinated, the tree's female cones develop as the seeds mature, and they are usually conical or round-shaped. The individual plates on the cones, known as scales, keep the seeds safe from weather extremes and hungry animalsuntil it's warm and dry enough to release them to grow into new trees.
The cones are the protective coatings for the seeds, shielding them from water, wind and harsh conditions.
Most pine cone seeds are edible and not poisonous, but experts sayNorfolk Island pine and yew trees are not true pine trees and both are toxic and should be avoided.
5 options for pine cones
What to do with the bounty of pine cones in the neighborhood or the woods? Here are five options:
• Decoration:Pine cones are good for Christmas wreaths and other organic decorations.
• Food for animals:Many animals and birds, especially squirrels, eat the seeds during harsh winters.
• Organic mulch:The cones, either whole or crushed, can make mulch because of their woody makeup.
• As a snack:Seeds from a female pine cone, known aspine nutsor pignoli, are small and are a light cream color, with a nutty flavor. Purcell says while they are edible, the greener and newer the cone, the better the flavor.
• Children's crafts:Who hasn't made a bird seed pine cone feeder with peanut butter and millet?
Email South Bend Tribunereporter Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@gannett.com.
