The Kauri Tree

Hundreds of millions of years ago Araucariaceae evolved cones in which their seeds could grow, steadily accumulating the sustenance and protection that would maximise their chances of dispersing the seed so that a new generation would grow successfully. This process was so successful it was adopted by the whole family of trees we call Conifers, the cone bearers. While these have subsequently been superseded in number and range by flowering trees, the Angiosperms, the Conifer family, includes both the largest and oldest living things on the planet.

Conifers can have either, or both sexes, on the one tree. The Araucariacea family have both male and female cones on each tree. The male cones produce pollen that fertilises the female cones, either on the same tree, or more likely on a neighbouring one.  The female cones will produce ripe seed a year after they are pollinated. The wind helps pollinate and disperse the seeds.