Loppuhaarojen

Loppuhaarojen is a Finnish botanical term referring to terminal branches on a plant or tree—the branches at the ends of shoots that carry the terminal growth point. The word derives from loppu (end) and haara (branch); the form loppuhaarojen is the genitive plural.

In plant architecture, loppuhaarojen describe the uppermost extensions of a shoot system and are often the sites of new growth and, in many species, flower or fruit development. Growth at the tips is regulated by apical dominance, a hormonal control that suppresses the activity of lateral buds along the same shoot. When loppuhaarojen are damaged or removed, dormant lateral buds may break dormancy and produce new branches, altering the plant’s silhouette and light interception.

In horticulture and forestry, deliberate management of loppuhaarojen through pruning, bending, or training is a common technique to shape plants, control height, improve air circulation, and influence flowering or fruiting patterns. The prevalence and vigor of loppuhaarojen vary among species and growth forms, contributing to differences between monopodial and sympodial branching patterns.

References and further reading: Finnish botanical dictionaries and forestry handbooks often discuss terminal branching under the broad topic of plant architecture. See also loppuhaara, päähaara, sivuhaara, apikaalinen dominanssi.