Twig

Twig

A twig is a small thin terminal branch of a woody plant. The buds on the twig are an important diagnostic characteristic, as are the abscission scars where the leaves have fallen away. The color, texture, and pattern of the bark on the twig can also be an important diagnostic feature. In many plants, the twig is a critical diagnostic feature for species identification.

Structure

Twigs are composed of a series of modules known as internodes. An internode is the stem region between two nodes (the points of attachment of leaves). A node is the point of attachment of a leaf or a twig on the stem in seed plants. The distance between nodes is the internode length.

Function

Twigs are critical to conducting water, nutrients, and sugars between the leaves and the roots. Buds at the tip of the twig grow to produce new leaves, flowers, and shoots. The growth of the twig at the tip, known as terminal growth, results in a longer stem and widely spaced leaves.

Types of Twigs

There are two basic types of twigs: vegetative twigs and fruiting spurs. Vegetative twigs primarily produce leaves, while fruiting spurs produce fruit.

See also

• Branch
• Bud
• Leaf
• Stem
• Internode (botany)
• Node (botany)

References

Twig Resources
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