Flowering and Fruiting- Table Mountain pine is monoecious. Cones are commonly seen on trees of sapling size and minimum seed-bearing age is 5 years. In northwestern North Carolina, pollen release at 457 m (1,500 ft) elevation begins the last week of March and ends during the first week of April; at 762 m (2,500 ft), pollen release begins about the second week in April and ceases near the end of the third week. Growth and reproductive activities of Table Mountain pine generally occur as early as, or earlier than, those of associated species (31). Table Mountain pine is reproductively isolated from other pine associates by early pollen release, so hybridization is restricted.

The staminate cones of Table Mountain pine are a reddish purple. The pollen is very large for eastern pines, being 50.2 ± 4.6 µ in inside diameter. The cone is heavy and egg shaped; the scales are much thicker at the ends and are armed with stout, hooked spines. Young ovulate strobili have a peduncle about 1 cm (0.4 in) long which is visible at maturity; as branch diameter increases, cones appear sessile. From two to seven cones are often arranged in whorls on branches, around the stems of saplings, or on leaders (21,25). Cones average 72 mm (2.8 in) in length, ranging from 42 to 103 mm (1.7 to 4.1 in); 54 mm (2.1 in) in width, ranging from 33 to 75 mm (1.3 to 3.0 in); and 64 cm³ (3.9 in³) in volume, ranging from 27 to 134 cm³ (1.6 to 8.2 in³). Cone dimensions and degree of serotiny decrease with increased elevation. Cones are largest at northern latitudes. In general, cones at higher elevations are well developed. Immature cones are deep green to brown, ripe cones are lustrous light brown, and old cones retained on branches are gray. Cones ripen in autumn of the second season; cone opening depends upon the degree of serotiny.

Seed Production and Dissemination- The seeds of Table Mountain pine are more or less triangular (32). They average 5.3 mm (0.2 in) long, 3.1 mm (0. 12 in) wide, and 13.8 mg (894 grains) in weight. Wing length varies from 19 to 25 mm (0.7 to 1.0 in) and wings are about 7 mm (0.3 in) wide; they range from a transparent light tan to dark brown. Seed coat roughness varies from smooth to a wart-like surface; the seed coat may be ridged. Cones averaging 58 mm (2.3 in) long and weighing 45 g (1.6 oz) produce about 50 seeds per cone, with an average viability of 81 percent. A bushel of cones contains about 0. 18 kg (0. 4 lb) of seeds. Cleaned seeds average 75,240/kg (34,200/lb) with a range of 67,540 to 83,600/kg (30,700 to 38,000/lb). A temperature range of 16° to 32° C (60° to 90° F) for 30 days is required to extract seed from cones (26); kiln drying expedites the process. Seed weight without coat is about 7.6 mg (0.0003 oz); these large seeds may have adaptive value in drier regions, giving Table Mountain pine an advantage in establishing seedlings (31). Frosts, drought, and heavy rains exert a greater influence on flower initiation, cone growth, seed development, and viability than tree age (21). Although cones shed their seeds very irregularly, large numbers of seeds are disseminated annually. (2)