The tamarack produces both male and female reproductive structures. Male structures appear as flattened flowerlike forms that disperse pollen. Female structures go through progressive stages of maturity ranging from a flowerlike appearance (shown above) to a fully developed, maroon cone that, once fertilized, releases brown seed pods containing two,dry, flattened seeds. After the release of its seeds, the cone turns brown and falls off with the leaves during winter. Cone production begins at about 15-40 years of age.