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Name: Kari S.
Status: other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 
1/9/2004
Question:
How does humidity effect whether a pine cone is open or closed. We cannot seem to be able to find any information on why they open or close due to the weather, just that they do it. Can you explain this?

Replies:
Some pine cones depend upon the temperatures associated with fire to open, while other open seasonally. The following may be helpful:

http://www.rr.ualberta.ca/courses/Old%20FOR340/340mar4.htm

http://www.nctimes.net/news/2001/20010211/hh.html

http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/1996/dec96/cones.htm

Anthony Brach, Ph.D


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