Let's learn meet some common tree buds
Hello. In this tutorial, we are going to meet 10 of our most common tree buds and learn how to identify them. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Why are buds important in tree identification?
Buds are a really useful way (and sometimes, one of the few ways) of identifying trees during the winter and early spring when they don’t yet have any leaves or flowers to help identify them. Yet, we so often overlook or forget about them.
At first glance, it might seem surprising to think about the possibility of identifying a tree by those little knobbly bits on its twigs. But, once you open your eyes and start noticing their little details, you will soon realise that tree buds, those knobbly things’, are often as different from one another as leaves or flowers ‘those green or pretty things’.
Alder tree buds
Alder buds are alternate, a soft, purple colour and attached to the twig via little pegs.
Beech tree buds
Beech buds are long, thin, tapered and chestnut brown and grow out at an angle away from the twig.
Cherry tree buds
Cherry buds are small, thin, tightly closed and grow in clusters all along the twig.
Hazel tree buds
Hazel buds are blunt, rounded, soft green and alternate, with the twig angled between each pair of buds.
Horse chestnut tree buds
Horse chestnut buds are quite large, egg-shaped, sticky, shiny and grow near the ends of the branches.
Oak tree buds
Oak tree buds are fat, blunt, pinky-reddish brown and grow in small clusters near the ends of the branch.
Rowan tree buds
Rowan tree buds are long, scruffy, hairy and tightly stuck to the branches.
Sycamore tree buds
Sycamore tree buds are opposite, egg-shaped, green and has little black points at the end of each bud scale.
Summary
Well… there we go! A brief introduction to our 10 common tree buds. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial? Let me know in the comments. Happy nature walking and see you soon!
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