LEAFSCARS
leafscar, bundle scars and bud of Pecan twig, Carya illinoinensis

When leaves fall off before winter they leave leafscars on the twigs. At the right we see a leafscar on a twig of the Pecan tree, Carya illinoinensis. Note the dark bundle scars, resulting from the breaking of pipe-like vascular bundles that earlier passed between the twig and the former leaf's petiole. Vascular bundles consist of the plant's xylem and phloem, described on our Inside Woody Twigs page.

Now just look at the variety of leafscars and buds in the picture appearing below:

leafscars and buds of black oak, fig, red buckeye, bitternut hickory, pawpaw, boxelder, sycamore & chinaberry

As you can see, leafscars and buds vary tremendously from species to species. Therefore, during winter they are great help to backyard naturalists identifying tree species using twig characteristics. In the above image, be sure to notice these features:

Sweetgum leaf scar showing bundle scars, Liquidambar styraciflua Leafscar of Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua

You see? You really can identify woody species even after their leaves have fallen!