A winter coat

The buds of many temperate-region trees, which must be able to survive winter, are protected by scales. In spring, their work done, these scales are no longer needed, and drop off in a process called bud burst. With some broadleaf species, the outermost scales are actually embryonic leaves; in spring, during bud burst, instead of dropping off like most scales, they develop into leaves. These are called naked buds.

This naked bud comes from a sweet viburnum and the scaly bud, from a red oak.