THE GROWTH OF THE SHOOT FROM THE BUD 



39 



extent affects the shape of the tree. In the Horse-chestnut the 

 apical buds contain flowers, and as the formation of a flower 

 stops growth in length, the Horse-chestnut is broad rather than 

 tapering. The apical bud of the Ash, on the other hand, contains 

 only leaves, the flowers being in the lateral buds. Compared 

 with the Horse-chestnut, this is a more tapering tree. 



In winter, buds are usually covered with bud- 

 scales; in this way they are protected from cold and 

 damp. In some cases, as in the Horse-chestnut, 

 the bud scales are covered with resin, which give' it 

 a glistening appearance in the hot suns of an early 

 March. Externally, where exposed to the light, 

 the scales are brownish-red; where overlapping 

 each other, they are greenish. After removing 

 the scales the young green leaves in early spring 

 are wrapped in down, and if the bud is an apical 

 bud the floral leaves may be seen in the centre. 

 All those leaves scales, foliage, and floral-leaves 

 are borne on a stem-like portion. It is clear that 

 a bud is the germ of a shoot, for it consists of a 

 stem portion and of leaves. 



Trees may often be recognised in the winter 

 not only by their bark, but by their buds. Those 

 of the Horse-chestnut are dark brown, very large, 

 and remarkably sticky from the resin on them. 

 The Ash, as Tennyson notes, has olive-green, almost 

 black, buds in spring 



"More black than ash-buds in the month of March." 



FIG. 24. Twig 

 of Sycamore 

 in winter. 



The long, slender, light brown Beech buds are 

 characteristic of the tree, and allow it to be distin- 

 guished at a distance from the Oak, with its stouter, 

 shorter buds of a rich brown. 



The Maple may also be distinguished from the Sycamore, 

 to which it is closely allied, by the pinkish colour of its 

 buds, which deepens into a beautiful red as the spring 

 advances. The Alder is recognised by its purplish - brown 

 scales. 



