The bud initials are laid in the usual manner in the primordial meristem in the case of branching plants of Corchorus capsularis. The non-branching character of some varieties is due to the different structural organization of the shoot apex. In the non-branching plants the absence of bud initials is associated with early vacuolation of the meristematic cells. Cases occur of sporadic development of a few axillary and extra-axillary buds.