Fig. 5. Photomicrographs and schematics of bud apex development in juvenile plants. The SAM was surrounded by primary needles and lateral buds in March (A); by primary needles and bud primordia in April (B); by well‐developed lateral buds in July (C); by primary needles and bud primordia in October (D); and by well‐developed lateral buds in December (E). On the right of the figure, the main events occurring between each sampling period are represented. AB, Axillary buds; BP, bud primordia; N, primary needles; pp, pith parenchyma.