Features, looks and more

The hornbeam bears winter and flower buds

• Winter buds 5 - 8 millimeters long
• enclosed by scales
• Color brown or reddish brown
• elongated, tapering to a point
• Flower buds a little longer and more rounded

The hornbeam buds, from which the leaves and flowers will later grow, are laid out in summer. They are brown or reddish brown and have small hairs on the side. The arrangement on the branch is changing. They are very close to the shoot.

This so-called winter bud encapsulates itself with scales and takes a dormant phase until it sprouts. It is very hard and can hardly be removed.

In spring the scale armor jumps up and is thrown off. Underneath is the actual bud from which the sheet sprouts.

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 that 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 flower in the form of a kitten.

The buds also play with Cut a role. At least three buds, also known as eyes, must remain on each shoot if the hornbeam is to branch well.

Buds open when the leaves shoot

the Flower buds open at the same time as the leaves begin to shoot. The hornbeam bears both female and male flowers, so it is monoecious and does not need a second hornbeam nearby for pollination.

Pollination takes place via wind and insects.

Distinguish hornbeams and red beeches by the buds

In the common beech, the terminal 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.