Final answer:
The statement is false; male cones are typically found on the lower branches of the tree to facilitate wind dispersal of pollen to the female cones on the upper branches
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that male cones are on higher branches of the tree is generally false. In conifers and other plants with similar reproductive strategies, the male cones, which produce pollen, are often found on the lower branches of the tree. This positioning helps facilitate the dispersal of pollen by wind, with the idea that the pollen will rise and reach the female cones, which are typically located on higher branches. The female cones contain the ovules, which are fertilized by the pollen to produce seeds.
For example, in Fig. 2, it is noted that male pine cones are produced in clusters and are located below the current year's growth, which indicates that they are not found on the higher branches. Additionally, the male cones wither after releasing pollen, suggesting a temporary presence on the tree that differs from the more permanent female cones.
Conifers and other trees like aspen have distinct male and female structures for reproduction. While male flowers of aspen occur in clusters that hang below branches, it is the conifer male cones that are more transient and are situated lower down on the tree, which further supports the fact that the original statement is incorrect.