The wonder seeds PINE CONES


An open pine cone is a sign of dryness in the air. Pine cones close when conditions are more humid. The above cone is a female. The males are more herbaceous.


T


he pine cone is virtually taken for granted today, noticed only at Christ- mas time as a decoration for greenery.


Yet it has a wonderful history and applica- tions for our day-to-day life. In many ancient cultures, the pine cone was linked to light, enlightenment and eter- nal life. The tiny, pine cone-shaped pineal gland, the size of a pine cone seed, is named for the pine cone. It is located in the cen- ter of the brain. This gland is linked to our perception of light and is responsible for the production of melatonin, the hormone that governs sleeping (dark) and waking (light). Legends from Greece to Egypt to Mexico to India speak of this “third eye” as the “seat of the soul” and give it many mystical proper- ties. It is the only part of the brain that is not paired. One legend has it that the pine cone nut


was the fruit of knowledge eaten by Eve and thence was responsible for mankind’s ban- ishment from the Garden of Eden. However


this may be, pine nuts have been part of our diet for at least 6,000 years according to sci- entists and are certainly very much enjoyed by humans of the modern age. They are used to make delicious pesto, added to con- fections, and even made into oil. Pine nuts mostly come from the Korean pine in Asia, the stone pine in Europe and pinyon pines in North America. Pine nuts are full of nutrition and might


keep you alive if you are ever lost in the woods and know which ones are edible. Just 100 grams of the nuts contain 673 calories, 13.02 grams of carbohydrates, 68.37 grams of fat and 13.69 grams of protein. Stone pine nuts are the highest in protein contain- ing 24% protein, by weight. Most of the pine nuts sold here are Asian. Pine cones open and close many times


during their lifetimes, originally opening to receive wind-born pollen from the soft her- baceous males, then closing while fertiliza- tion takes place; then opening to release the


seeds. But they continue to open even after seed dispersal when conditions are dry and close when the conditions are damp. oPEN- pine cones on a forest floor indicate dry con- ditions that can lead to forest fires. Pine cones are collectively called strobi-


lii. The familiar woody pine cone, called megastobilus, is the female. The soft, lazy green ones, called microstrobilus, are the males. Often the males grow higher up on the tree so that their pollen can drift down- ward to the females. Depending on the species, each of the females has a distinctive look, but the males all pretty much look alike. Males carry a pollen sac which they share generously with the world in spring (you may have been seized by sneezes pass- ing a lighter-than-air-pollen blast from a male pine cone). After releasing their pol- len male cones fall apart and die. Female cones start out soft and sticky,


the better to capture the pollen. They grow hard and brown after fertilization.


Classifieds


FLORABUNDA SEEDS. Cottage Garden, Wildflowers, Heirloom Flow- ers and Vegetables. Updated Web Site with Pay Pal - Free catalogue www.flo- rabundaseeds.com, contact@florabun- daseeds.com 1973 Villiers Line, R.R.#1 Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 Phone 705- 295-6440 Fax 705-295-4035.


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134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg 204-261-6387


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38 • Beautiful Gardens 2012


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THE BOOK OF 10 NEAT THINGS: Fun, quirky, wondrous facts about the garden and the world around us. Avail- able online at ManitobaGardener.net or call 204.940.2700.


www.localgardener.net


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