What happens when pine cones are soaked in water?

Pine cones shrink when soaked in water.

Pine cones are composed of scales like fish scales, and the inner and outer scales contract and expand in different ways. When put into water, the bottom of the scale of the pine cone will absorb water and expand, so that the scale will bend inward and the whole pine cone will be closed. At this time, the pine nuts are protected by scales and will not run out.

When the weather clears and the pinecones dry, the scales will open and the seeds will be carried to the wind and scattered in all directions. Dry seeds on sunny days are lighter than wet seeds and can reach farther places. In order to release seeds at the most suitable time, pine cones will open their scales in warm and dry weather and remain closed in cold and humid weather.

Introduction to pinecone:

Pine cone, also known as pine cone, is the seed of Pinaceae, which contains pine nuts when it matures. It is about 6~ 10 cm long and 3 cm wide. The body is like a fish scale, with white and black colors. The cones mature after two years.

Pinaceae plants have strong adaptability to the environment and are widely distributed in China, such as Pinus koraiensis and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in the northeast. Quercus mongolica and Pinus tabulaeformis in North and Northwest China, Pinus armandii in Southwest China and Pinus massoniana in Central China. Pinaceae plants are evergreen all year round, have tenacious vitality and are widely used. The species and natural distribution of edible pine trees in China account for a large part of the world distribution.

There are many kinds of pine cone extracts, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids and other compounds, among which polysaccharides have been studied most widely because of their various active values.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Pinecone