Final answer:
A first-year pine cone is smaller in size and appears in the spring at the tip of newly elongated branches. Male pine cones grow more quickly and wither soon after releasing pollen in early summer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A first-year pine cone, also known as a young female pine cone, appears in the spring at the tip of newly elongated branches. It is smaller in size and still in the early stages of development. The male pine cones, on the other hand, grow more quickly but are present for a shorter time. They wither and dry up soon after releasing pollen in early summer.