
THE STEM oa 
Buds. On stems that normally branch, buds are usually pro- 
duced in the axils of all the leaves (Fig. 93). Buds are also 
found at the tips of 
stems, unless the bud 
has died or produced 
a terminal flower or 
flower cluster which 
has dropped off and 
_ ended the longitudi- 
nal growth of the 
stem. When the life 
of a terminal bud is 
ended by the produc- 
tion of a flower clus- 
ter, the continued 
growth of the shoot is 
due to one or more ax- 
illary buds. Buds are 
undeveloped shoots. 
After they are formed, 
they may either de- 
velop into shoots or 
remain dormant. A 
bud that has been 
dormant for a num- 
ber of years may be 
forced to develop into 
a shoot by the re- 
moval of that part of 
the stem which is 
above the bud. 
Bud scales. Buds 

Fig. 94. Leafless branches of elm (left) and 
horse-chestnut (right), with winter buds _pro- 
tected by bud scales 
The main branch of the elm has three rings of bud- 
scale scars, showing that the lower part of the 
branch is four years old. A ring of scars at the 
base of each side branch shows that these branches 
are the previous summer’s growth (x +). The 
branch of horse-chestnut also has three rings of 
scars, Showing that the lower part of the branch is 
four years old (x 4) 
are protected by a covering of leaves. When deciduous trees 
are leafless for a considerable period, the dormant buds found 
on them during that time are usually covered by specially modi- 
fied protecting leaves known as bud scales (Fig. 94). These are 
