The apical, terminal, bud in a bean plant, Phaseolus vulgaris. Apical buds grow out of the apical meristem cells and lead the upward primary growth of a plant. The hormone auxin is released from the apical bud and it flows down the shoot and inhibits the growth of lateral stems. This is called apical dominance. Gardeners often pinch off the apical bud which stops apical dominance and leads to bushier growth.