Twig

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Twigs

Twigs grow in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Some twigs are stout while others are thin, some may be hairy while others are not, and some have large buds while others have small buds. Twigs offer valuable clues about the identitdy of a tree, expecially in the winter. Below are but a few of the many types of twigs.

White oak twigs are red-brown to somewhat gray, hairless, with red-brown multiple terminal buds that are small, rounded and hairless. Twigs are often shiny or somewhat waxy. American elm twigs are slender, hairless, slightly zigzag, reddish-brown; buds over 1/4 inch long, reddish-brown with darker edged scales, often placed a little to one side of the twig. Staghorn sumac twigs are stout, brown and velvety-hairy, (resembling deer antlers in velvet). Buds are small, rounded and covered with soft, brown hairs, nearly encircled by leafscar. Winged elm twigs are slender, hairless, slightly zigzag, reddish-brown, with red-brown buds. Twigs have conspicuous corky wings that protrude one-half inch.

Pin oak twigs are slender and red-brown, hairless, with multiple terminal buds. Buds are hairless, rounded in cross-section and quite sharp-pointed. European beech twigs are slender, zigzag, light brown in color. Buds are long (1 inch), light brown, and slender, covered with overlapping scales that are tinged with fuzz. Pignut hickory twigs are moderately stout to slender (when compared to the other hickories) and hairless. Leaf scars are 3-lobed to cordate--best described as a "monkey face". The terminal bud is small and light brown in color. Catalpa twigs are stout, green, and later reddish-brown in color. The lateral buds are small and covered with overlapping, red-brown scales. The leaf scars are large and oval to round.


White oak twigs are red-brown to somewhat gray, hairless, with red-brown multiple terminal buds that are small, rounded and hairless. Twigs are often shiny or somewhat waxy.	American elm twigs are slender, hairless, slightly zigzag, reddish-brown; buds over 1/4 inch long, reddish-brown with darker edged scales, often placed a little to one side of the twig.	Staghorn sumac twigs are stout, brown and velvety-hairy, (resembling deer antlers in velvet). Buds are small, rounded and covered with soft, brown hairs, nearly encircled by leafscar.	Winged elm twigs are slender, hairless, slightly zigzag, reddish-brown, with red-brown buds. Twigs have conspicuous corky wings that protrude one-half inch.

Pin oak twigs are slender and red-brown, hairless, with multiple terminal buds. Buds are hairless, rounded in cross-section and quite sharp-pointed.	European beech twigs are slender, zigzag, light brown in color. Buds are long (1 inch), light brown, and slender, covered with overlapping scales that are tinged with fuzz.	Pignut hickory twigs are moderately stout to slender (when compared to the other hickories) and hairless. Leaf scars are 3-lobed to cordate--best described as a "monkey face". The terminal bud is small and light brown in color.	Catalpa twigs are stout, green, and later reddish-brown in color. The lateral buds are small and covered with overlapping, red-brown scales. The leaf scars are large and oval to round.