1. The prime objective of a pine cone is to protect and keep the seeds of conifers safe.

2. Pine cones can stay on a tree for as many as 10 years.

3. What you mostly see are female cones. Male cones are not easily spotted due to their smaller size.

4. Pine cones are held sacred across various cultures because the pineal glands in our brains are shaped like them. Hence the name.

A pineal gland is linked to our perception of light and also called ‘Third Eye’ and the ‘seat of consciousness.’ 

5. The pine cone has great religious significance too. The sacred staff of the Pope has a pine cone on it.

6. Not only the Romans, pinecone has also been present in various other cultures including Greek, Egyptian and Aztec.

7. Pine cones were the staple diet of dinosaurs. 

8. Pine cones symbolise fertility. Ancient Celtic women would sleep with pine cones under their pillows to get pregnant.

9. Number of spirals found on pine cones are almost always Fibonacci numbers. In Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of two preceding ones.

10. Is pine cone a flower? No. But pine cone is the state flower of Maine state in the Unites States.