What are different types of pine cones?

In the United States, pine cones range from the small, egg-shaped cones found on lodgepole pines that never exceed 2 inches in length to longer wooden cones of the knobcone and western white pines. The scales of some pinecones curve inwards, while others have straight and stiff scales. Some have knobby scales, while others have scales with a smooth surface.

Some pinecones have prickly surfaces, while others do not. They range in length from the short cones found on lodgepole pines to the long fruits of sugar pines, which may reach 10 to 20 inches long and have thick, straight cones. As with cones, bark colors and patterns vary among pines.