short shoot

The term "short shoot" refers to a specialized, determinate twig found in some conifers that carries most of the plant's photosynthetic leaves. These short shoots can vary in appearance and function. For example, in bald cypress and dawn redwood, they resemble double-sided combs and are shed annually, with new ones forming the following spring. In pines, short shoots with fascicles of needles are retained for many years but are eventually shed and do not typically grow into branches. In contrast, the short shoots of larch and true cedar are permanent, elongating slowly and producing new needles each year. These structures are part of the plant's shoot system, which originates from the shoot apical meristem and is responsible for growth and development.12