Bud development in mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana). I. Vegetative bud and shoot development

Abstract

Vegetative buds of mature Tsuga mertensiana (Bong) Carr. (mountain hemlock) were studied throughout the annual growth cycle. Cell divisions began in vegetative buds in mid-April and shoots and leaves elongated within the bud scales causing the buds to burst in late June. Lateral shoots completed elongation by the end of July. Vegetative terminal apices from lateral branches began bud-scale initiation when bud dormancy ended. All bud scales were initiated by the end of July. Leaf primordial initiation occurred from that time until mid-October when vegetative buds again became dormant. Axillary buds were initiated on the elongating shoots in early June then followed the same phenology as vegetative terminal buds. Vegetative bud and shoot development are compared with that of western hemlock and certain other members of the Pinaceae. The relationship of bud development to shoot development is discussed for mountain hemlock and other conifers having a similar pattern of vegetative bud development.