Spur (stem)

{{Short description|Type of plant stem}}

{{One source|date=November 2021}}

Spurs, or brachyblasts,{{cite web |last1=Coder |first1=Kim D. |title=Tree Anatomy Manual: Twigs |url=https://warnell.uga.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Tree%20Anatomy%20Twigs%20pub%2012-24%20-%20Tree%20Anatomy%20Manual%20Twigs%20ARBOR-H.pdf |website=warnell.uga.edu |publisher=Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources |access-date=2 November 2024 |page=7 |format=PDF |date=2018}} are short, slow growing stems with greatly shortened internodes that can bear leaves, flowers and fruit. Spurs are perennial growths and commonly arise from the leaf axils on shoots.

They are common in fruit trees such as Apple, Pear, Plum and Almond. The spurs have horticultural importance. For example, the number of spurs on an almond (Prunus dulcis) tree is highly connected to the overall almond yield. {{Cite journal|last1=Heerema|first1=R. J.|last2=Weinbaum|first2=S. A.|last3=Pernice|first3=F.|last4=Dejong|first4=T. M.|date=2008-01-01|title=Spur survival and return bloom in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb] varied with spur fruit load, specific leaf weight, and leaf area|journal=The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology|volume=83|issue=2|pages=274–281|doi=10.1080/14620316.2008.11512380|s2cid=87280887|issn=1462-0316}}

Ginkgo develops spurs from first-year leaf axils, and in subsequent years these produce clusters of leaves and eventually cones.{{cite web|url=https://conifersociety.org/conifers/ginkgo/|title=Ginkgo |website=American Conifer Society|access-date=2 April 2022}} Porcelainflower Hoya carnosa produces spurs for its inflorescences as well.