Identification of Trees and Shrubs in Winter Using Buds and Twigs (Relié)

To many plant lovers winter seems like lost time, but a glance at the twigs of trees and shrubs shows that this need not be the case. In contrast to other life forms, trees and shrubs do not die aboveground, but enclose their shoots for the next year in buds, presenting many characters which hardly change over time. Using these bud and twig characters, deciduous trees and shrubs can be classified reliably in winter, which is particularly important during planting time.