Alternate Budded Trees with True Terminal Buds II

Populus deltoides

Eastern Cottonwood

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) has large (1-2 cm long) terminal buds that are shiny and sticky. The leaf scars have three bundle scars. The pith has a star-shaped cross section.

Populus balsamifera P. deltoides

L – R Balsam Poplar, Cottonwood leaf buds, Cottonwood flower buds

 

 

 

 

Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) is similar to Eastern Cottonwood but with very aromatic buds. The leaf scars have three to five bundle scars. Eastern Cottonwood is primarily a southern species and Balsam Poplar is northern.

 

Populus grandidentata, Bigtooth Aspen

Bigtooth Aspen

 

Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata) has a terminal bud less than 1cm long. The center of the scale is covered with short dense gray hairs. The lateral buds diverge from the stout twigs.

 

 

Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen

Quaking Aspen

 

 

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is similar to Bigtooth Aspen. The terminal buds lack the gray hairs. The lateral buds are appressed to the thin twig.

 

 

L-R Prunus serotina, P. virginiana

L-R Black Cherry, Choke Cherry

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) has a blunt terminal bud. The bud scales are reddish-brown. The lateral buds are appressed. The bark is black with rounded plates giving it a “burnt potato chip” look.

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) has a terminal bud that is longer and more pointed than a Black Cherry’s. The lateral buds are more or less divergent. The brown bud scales have a two-tone look.

Quercus Oaks

Oaks

 

Oaks (Quercus spp.) have buds clustered at the ends of their twigs. The species are often difficult to distinguish.

 

 

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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