How did plants adapt to live on land?
Plants' cells needed to develop stomata in their cells walls to hold in, and release water and nutrients when needed. Because the early ancestor of plants, algae, contained chloroplasts, it was easy to photosynthesize. This trait was passed on to the land plants, and therefore plants were adapted to making their own food. The soil is rich with a wide variety of minerals and nutrient, so the plants had to develop a structure that could help them to use these nutrients to their advantage. The roots anchor the plant to the soil, and also allow for the uptake of important nutrients and minerals.

How were plants able to grow upwards, far from the soil and water supply?
Plants like the Virginia Pine developed vascular tissues, which are cells joined into tubes that transport nutrients and water through the plant's body. These tissues use capillary action to transport the water and nutrients up from the roots all the way to the top and tips of the tree. They grow with the tree, and never limit the growth. These specialized tissues allowed plants to grow upwards and in diameter, assuring that the entire plant will get enough supply of nutrients to help it survive.

How did the Virginia Pine adapt?
Although the Virginia Pine doesn't do well in the shade because the seedlings can't be established; they can grow in very poor land sites. They grow after fire and erosion! This is because these trees have the ability to use all the nutrients in the soil to revive and grow again.  Although many of the smaller trees will burn completely in fires, the larger trees have the adaptation to survive! This is because the tissues in the tree are fire resistant and have most likely survived more than one fire. The bark is thin but older trees have the ability to reform their dominant buds located on the stems and branches, and can revive their roots back to normal. Also, the seed protection and basal sprouting at a young age help these trees to be more fire tolerant, and allow the seedlings to regenerate. A site disturbance of fire can actually triple the amount of germination more than an undisturbed seedbed.

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The Virginia Pine also has shallow roots, which allow them to receive water and nutrients faster through the roots, and pass them on throughout the entire tree. Also, the ethylene that is stored in the seedlings of a Virginia Pine help allow for more efficient growth and survival. The Virginia pine has adapted to the poor site conditions and are able to develop in sand and clay loam, gravel, sandy soil, and other dry environments. This is because it's tissues are specialized in using up and storing nutrients, from any sources of soil, preferably dry environments though. The seedlings thrive in areas of total sunlight, and are also  extremely tolerant to the dry sites and conditions. They can store nutrients and water very well, which only means good things for them!

What are special adaptations of a pine needle?
The Pine needle is extremely compacted and surrounded by a hard casing. This holds in an unbelievable amount of water and nutrients. The needles are green because they contain chloroplasts which aid in photosynthesis. They also maximize the surface area, so that they can gain as much food and nutrients from photosynthesis as possible.  The Virginia Pine never has a point when there are no needles on the branches, so they have a continuous source of photosynethesis.

Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Course
Here's a great place to stop by!

What about the special adaptations of the pine cone?
The male cone, or pollen cone is clustered, compacted, and tough.  Although they are small and contain thousands of microspores, the pollen cones deteriorate quite quickly.  The female cone, or ovulate cone is larger and survives much longer. They form multiple scales, and each scale contains two ovules which eventually turn into seeds These scales are hard and protect the ovules. The most important adaptations that these cones made, is the ability to fertilize without the help of other organisms. Pines can fertilize simply by the wind, and they do not require water like early plants need to reproduce. (To view the structure of the cone, follow the link to the left)