Glossary Details – Lecythidaceae

Glossary Details:

Title: Cross-section of a tree trunk. Drawing by M. N. Sashital.

Description: Cross-section of a tree trunk or branch showing the tissues produced by the cambium and the cork cambium. The tissues produced by the cork cambium (also called the phellogen) are the phellum (also called the bark) to the outside and the phelloderm to the inside are collectively called the bark (also called the periderm). The sapwood consists of xylem which transports water and nutrients to the leaves and the phloem which transports photosynthates (= carbohydrates) to other parts of the plant. The heartwood consists of xylem that no longer conducts water and nutrients and, thus, serves mostly as support for the plant.

Term:

Bark

Definition:

The tissue of the trunk and branches external to the vascular cambium.

Notes:

There are two types of bark. The outer bark, which consists of the cork cambium and the tissue laid down toward the outside of the trunk and branches, and the inner bark, which consists of the cambium and the phloem it produces to the outside of the trunk and branches and lies between the cambium and the cork cambium. The cambium produces xylem to toward the center of the trunk and branches.

Related Terms:

Cambium
Inner bark
Outer bark