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terminal bud - the bud located at the end of a twig marking the end of that year's growth

Compare with: axillary bud

Acer saccharum (sugar maple) twig and terminal bud hires

In some cases, a false terminal bud is actually an axillary bud located at the end of the twig because the end of the twig has died back to that point.  A twig scar should be visible next to the false terminal bud, and can be distinguished from a leaf scar by a lack of bundle scars within the twig scar. 

Platanus occidentalis (sycamore) left: twig and false terminal bud, center: twig scar adjacent to bud, right: leaf scar adjacent to bud  hires  hires  hires

Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) left: twig and false terminal bud, center: twig scar, right: leaf scar surrounding bud  hires  hires  hires

A true terminal bud may have a leaf scar, but there should be no twig scar visible.

Acer saccharum (sugar maple) terminal bud with moon-shaped leaf scar and no twig scar hires

Fagus grandifolia (American beech) left: twig and terminal bud, right: leaf scar adjacent to bud and no twig scar  hires  hires

Images copyright 2005 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use