Unit 1 - Structural Units & Functions

Lesson 6: Reproduction

In Lesson 4, you learned about the various structures associated with the process of reproduction in trees and plants, such as flowers, cones, fruit, and seeds.
The following describes the functions of these structures.

Most deciduous trees are angiosperms; therefore, their seeds are formed in flowers. Flowers are pollinated by wind, insects, birds, or bats. Following pollination, seeds develop surrounded by "fruit." The fruit plays an important role in seed dispersal as in these examples:

  • Maple seeds have winged shaped "fruits" that help them catch the wind.

  • Edible fruits are consumed by animals who then deposit the seeds in their droppings.

As well as reproducing by seed, some trees can also reproduce vegetatively.

The poplar or the aspen, for example, can send up new stems from their root systems.




The seeds of coniferous trees are not formed in flowers; rather, they develop in cones.  Pine trees reproduce by producing seeds.

Coniferous trees possess both male and female reproductive structures, or cones. Both male and female cones are on the same tree. Typically, the male cones that produce pollen are located on the lower branches of the tree.






Within Alberta's forest industry, faster reproduction of trees, both deciduous and coniferous, has become an important consideration.

Faster Forests

OSLI - Faster Forests Aug 21 from OSLI on Vimeo.

If the above video will not play, click here to view Faster Forests.