North Carolina Landscape Contractors Practice Exam 2025 - Free Landscape Contractor Practice Questions and Study Guide

A bud is defined as an embryonic stem tip that contains young leaves or flowers, making it the correct answer to this question. Buds play a crucial role in the growth and development of plants, serving as the points from which new leaves, flowers, or even new stems can emerge.

Buds can be found at the apex of stems or leaf axils, and they can be categorized as vegetative buds (which develop into new leaves and shoots) or floral buds (which develop into flowers). This functionality is essential for the propagation of plant species and overall plant health.

The other options do not fit the definition provided in the question. A stem node refers to the part of the stem where leaves or branches are attached but does not specifically denote an embryonic structure. A leaflet is a small leaf that makes up part of a compound leaf, and a root cap is a protective structure at the tip of a root that helps the root penetrate the soil. Thus, only a bud aligns with the description of an embryonic stem tip that bears young leaves or flowers.