Consequently, 'bridging' terms can be applied. The term suffrutescent , for instance, denotes an herbaceous perennial that shows some woody tendencies, usually at the base. The stem ' caul- ' refers to the primary product of the terminal meristem , the shoot. Caulescent denotes a 'normal' shoot with nodes and discernable internodes. Branches of deciduous, woody plants in the Winter show both action of the apical meristem and quite a few useful key characters.
Keys are often available for woody plants in 'Winter condition' for a given flora.
Each Fall the apical meristem is enclosed and protected by a set of terminal bud scales. These scales fall away each Spring, leaving a ring of bud scale scars on the branch. Thus, the annual product of a given terminal meristem, nodes and internodes, can be tracked by examining the portion of the branch that lies between the terminal bud and the first set of bud scales scars encountered. Other features, such as the leaf scar and pattern of vascular bundle scars within the leaf scar, are used for identification in these keys. Another feature of the shoot that can be used as a key character is the nature of the central tissue or pith.