What is Cork cambium?
'''Cork cambium '''is a [[Tissue (biological)|tissue]] in many [[vascular plant]]s as part of the [[bark]] (periderm). The cork cambium is a [[wikt:lateral|lateral]] [[meristem]] and is responsible for secondary growth that replaces the epidermis in [[root]]s and [[Plant stem|stems]]. It is found in [[wood]]y and many [[herb]]aceous [[dicot]]s, [[gymnosperm]]s and some [[monocot]]s, which usually have no secondary growth. Cork cambium is one of the plant's [[meristem]]s - the tissues that consist of [[embryo]]nic (not specialized) [[Cell (biology)|cells]] from which the plant grows. It is one of the many layers of bark, between the cork and primary [[phloem]]. The function of cork cambium is to produce the cork, a tough protective material. Synonyms for cork cambium are '''bark cambium''', '''pericambium''' or '''phellogen'''. ==Economic importance== * Commercial [[Cork (material)|cork]] comes from the bark of the [[cork oak]] ''(Quercus suber).'' Cork has many uses including wine bottle stoppers, bulletin boards, coasters, hot pads to protect tables from hot pans, insulation, sealing for lids, flooring, [[gasket]]s for engines, handles for tennis rackets, etc. * Many types of bark are used as [[mulch]]. ==Related pages== *[[Meristem]] *[[Cork (material)]] ==References== *Junikka, L. (1994) Macroscopic bark terminology. ''IAWA Journal'' 15(1): 3-45 *Trockenbrodt, M. (1990) Survey and discussion of the terminology used in bark anatomy. ''IAWA Bulletin, New Series'' 11: 141-166. {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Plant anatomy]] [[Category:Plant tissues]]