Branching
The stem is the basic
above ground unit of a
typical plant.
Terminal bud
Leaf scar
Axillary bud
Bundle traces
Lenticels
Terminal bud scar
Pith
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Dormant stem of a woody plant.
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The stem consists of a series
of buds located at the nodes.
The space between the nodes
is an internode.
Node
Internode
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Branching
The arrangement of buds or branches on the stem
can be alternate, opposite, or whorled.
Opposite
Alternate
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Whorled
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An opposite arrangement of stems around the main axis
is growth from two buds at the node.
Viburnum with leaves
removed to show branching.
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An alternate arrangement of stems around the main
axis results from a single bud at each node.
Birch (Betula) with leaves
removed to show branching.
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A whorled arrangement of stems around the main axis results from multiple
buds at a each node.
Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria) has five stems
emerging from the same node in a whorl.
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Branching
There are two basic growth patterns
in most plants termed monopodial or
sympodial.
This pattern is determined by
whether vegetative growth continues
from the terminal meristem
(monopodial) or from an axillary
replacement meristem (sympodial).
Climbing fig (Ficus pumila)
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Monopodial
Primary
apical
meristem
For monopodial growth, all
extension of the axis (stem)
is derived from one primary
meristem.
Growth is essentially
indeterminate and any
inflorescence produced will
be from a lateral bud.
Shoot tip
Axillary
inflorescence
Roystonea
Palms like Roystonea produce a single monopodial
trunk with axillary floral meristems.
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Sympodial
New growth
from axillary
shoots
For sympodial growth,
extension growth is
derived from a newly
formed axillary meristem.
The original meristem is
terminated either by
abortion, or becomes a
terminal structure such as
an inflorescence or tendril
forcing extension growth
from an axillary bud.
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Terminal
flower
In magnolia, the main axis is determinant ending in a
floral meristem allowing no additional terminal growth.
Branches form from a pair of axillary buds, which also
are determinate and will eventually end in a flower.
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Sympodial
Monopodial
Pear (Pyrus) showing terminal and
lateral shoots with a monopodial
pattern.
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Sweetgum (Liquidambar) with a terminal
inflorescence and has new growth from
two axillary buds in a sympodial pattern.
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Sympodial
In some plants with sympodial
growth, it appears that the
terminal meristem continues to
grow.
New
growth
from
axillary
bud.
However, the stem actually
terminates in an inflorescence
and new growth is from the
axillary bud.
New growth is usually slightly
off-center in an oblique or
zigzag growth pattern.
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Terminal
inflorescence
Previous
season’s
flower
stem.
In yellowwood (Cladrastis), new growth
terminates in an inflorescence and next
season’s growth is from an axillary bud.
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Sympodial
Some plants have repeating
sets of sympodial units that
consist of one to three
leaves, then a terminal
flower, followed by new
growth from the axillary bud.
New leaf
Several crop plants, like
cotton and tomato have been
extensively studied for plant
architecture and exhibit this
type of sympodial growth.
New terminal
flower bud
New vegetative
growth from
axillary bud
Terminal
flower
Cotton (Gossypium)
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Sympodial
In tomato each sympodial unit
consists of three leaves and a
terminal inflorescence.
Extension growth proceeds from
the bud below the inflorescence.
In pepper, there are two leaves
and a terminal inflorescence.
Extension growth proceeds from
shoots emerging from a pair of
buds below the inflorescence.
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Sympodial
Another way for a sympodial unit
to form is when the apical
meristem loses its function and
dies. It becomes covered over
with a layer of parenchyma cells.
Lateral bud
Aborted
terminal bud
The lateral bud assumes the role
of producing next season’s
extension growth.
Leaf petiole
This is the normal growth pattern
in several tree species such as
elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula) and
linden (Tilia).
Main
stem
Elm (Ulmus)
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Mixed branching types
There are numerous
patterns for tree growth
where the main trunk can
be monopodial and the
branches either being
monopodial or sympodial.
Monopodial main axis with
monopodial branches and
axillary flowers.
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Monopodial main axis with
sympodial branches with
terminal flowers.
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Branching
Another type of stem growth that exhibits mixed stem types are
those plants that produce “short shoots”. Generally, both long and
short shoots produce leaves and mainly differ in shoot elongation.
Long shoot
Short shoots
(red arrows)
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo)
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Branching
Close inspection of the short shoot
shows the short internodes with
many years of leaf scars.
Terminal bud
Two year
old leaf
scars
Yearly growth
Previous
season’s
leaf scars
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo)
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In katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum),
long shoots are produced at the
terminal (distal) ends of
branches and only have
vegetative buds.
Long
shoot
Short shoots develop along the
interior of the branches and
only consist of a single leaf and
usually a flower bud.
Short
shoot
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Often, short shoots are associated
with flowering and fruiting.
Short
shoots
Short
shoot
The short shoot on apple associated with
flowering and fruiting is called a spur.
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Ficus auriculata
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