Tree ID by lateral alternate buds that are small or pressed to the shoot and difficult to see

Terminal buds are formed at the end of the shoot. Lateral buds are formed at the junction of the leaf and shoot. Lateral buds are formed at particular points on the shoot called nodes. If there are 2 buds at each node they are said to be opposite. If there is one bud at each node the buds are said to be alternate as they are in the trees shown here. Alternate buds may be spirally arranged along the shoot so that leaves do not interfere with each other when they gather light. Many trees, such as Poplars and Willows have alternate spiral buds. 

Tree ID by lateral alternate buds – Here are  photos of tree stems with buds that are lateral and arranged alternately along the stem. Click on any photo to enlarge it. For more information on terminal buds click HERE.  Click on the tree name in red to get more information on the species. To go back to the BUDS key click HERE. To go to alternate buds which are LARGE click HERE

SWEET CHESTNUT

BIRCH

HAZEL

APPLE

WHITEBEAMS

WILLOWS 

TABLE DOGWOOD

FOXGLOVE TREE

CATALPA

FALSE ACACIA

WILD SERVICE

SWEET GUM

TURKISH HAZEL

In Britain most tree growth occurs in spring and summer. During the growing season the tree produces buds ready for next years growth. These buds remain dormant during the winter and open in the following spring. Inside each bud are tiny preformed leaves, shoots or flowers. Terminal buds are formed at the end of the shoot. Lateral buds are formed at the junction of the leaf and shoot. Leaves and lateral buds are formed at particular points on the shoot called nodes. As the shoot grows in the summer, the terminal bud releases a hormone which prevents lateral buds forming. The concentration of this hormone is high at the tip but as the tip grows away it becomes low enough for lateral buds to form at a node. The tip then continues to grow until another node can grow and so on until growth ends for the year.