The Opening Mechanism of Pine Cone Scales

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Abstract
Measurements of the cone scales of 5 species of pines reveal extra ordinary lengthwise shrinkage from the wet to the dry state. Histological study shows that in longitudinal radial section, a pine cone scale consists of two zones. Dorsally, the cells are principally wood fibers extending from the cone axis; ventrally there is a band of tissue consisting of short rectangular thick-walled cells. Depending upon the species, lengthwise shrinkage of this tissue varies from 10 to 36 percent. Shrinkage of the fibrous portion is negligible. From these data, it might be presumed that fibril orientation in the short rectangular cells would be at right angles to the long axis of the cell. Electron microscope studies support this assumption and show that the micro-fibrils are indeed oriented at 90° to the long axis of the cell. Photomicrographs accompanying this paper illustrate the structural features described.

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