
A tiny branch disconnected from tree, on a snowy day

The twisty branch of a
Lilac tree
A ''branch'' is a part of a
woody plant such as a
tree,
shrub, or
vine. It is any woody structural
member that is usually connected to but not part of the central
trunk. A branch supports the terminal
twigs, which in turn support the
leaves.
Branches may be oriented in any direction from horizontally to vertically, but usually have
bark similar to the upper trunk (whereas twigs are often marked different to the bark).
A large or main branch is sometimes called a '
limb' or 'bough' (
pronounced ), while very small branches are called 'branchlets' or 'twigs'.