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Function
Male and female pine cones are born on the same tree. During pollination, the male cone releases pollen which is carried away on the wind. When the pollen lands on a female cone, it extends a tube into a chamber called the ovule which contains the egg cells but doesn't actually release the sperm and fertilize them until the next growing season.
Significance
Once the egg cells are fertilized they form into a seed over a period of two to three years. Once formed, the seed is carried away by the wind or animals. When it reaches the ground, the seed germinates and begins to grow after exposure to the proper environmental factors such as heat and light.
Considerations
Pine seeds, also called pine nuts, are collected as a food by many American Indian, European and Asian cultures. They are dug out of squirrel caches, gathered from the ground and collected from pine cones. Some pine stands are in danger because of excessive harvesting.