- The hornbeam bears winter and flower buds
- Leaf or flower buds?
- Buds open when the leaves shoot out
- Distinguish between hornbeam and beech by the buds
Hornbeams bud in summer. Until they sprout in spring, they look like small thickenings. The hornbeam can also be distinguished from the common beech by the position of the buds. Worth knowing about the buds of the hornbeam.
The hornbeam has male and female buds
The hornbeam bears winter and flower buds
- Winter buds 5 - 8 mm long
- surrounded by scales
- Color brown or reddish brown
- elongated, tapering
- Flower buds slightly longer and more rounded
The hornbeam buds, from which the leaves and flowers will later grow, are already planted in summer. They are brown or reddish brown and have small hairs on the side. The arrangement on the branch is alternate. They are very close to the drive.
This so-called winter bud encapsulates itself with scales and enters a dormant phase until it buds. It is very hard and can hardly be removed.
In the spring, the scale armor jumps up and is thrown off. Below that is the actual bud from which the leaf sprout.
Leaf or flower buds?
The leaf buds are about 5 to 8 millimeters long and taper to a point. The flower buds are slightly longer than the leaf buds. They're not quite as sharp for that.
The scales of the leaf buds are significantly larger than those of the flower buds. These look very filigree and give an idea of the later flowering in the form of a catkin.
The buds also play a role in cutting. At least three buds, also called eyes, must remain on each shoot if the hornbeam is to branch well.
Buds open when the leaves shoot out
The flower buds open at the same time as the leaves begin to sprout. The hornbeam bears both male and female flowers, so it is monoecious and does not need a second hornbeam nearby for pollination.
Pollination is by wind and insects.
Distinguish between hornbeam and beech by the buds
In the case of the common beech, the end buds are at the tip of the respective shoot. A hornbeam only has pseudo terminal buds. They are slightly offset to the side on the shoot.
tips
Hornbeams, which are often cut as a hedge, rarely flower because the flower buds are removed during cutting. Solitary hornbeams, allowed to grow unhindered, produce catkin-shaped male flowers and the inconspicuous female flowers in winter.