PERICAMBIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Pericambium is a term commonly used in plant anatomy and refers to a thin layer of cells that surrounds the vascular tissue in the roots of higher plants. It is important to note that this term is often used interchangeably with the term "pericycle," although some sources suggest that pericambium specifically refers to the outermost layer of the pericycle.
The pericambium is situated between the endodermis, which is the innermost layer of the cortex, and the phloem and xylem, which make up the vascular tissue. This thin layer of cells is involved in plant growth and development as it contains actively dividing cells called lateral meristems. These meristematic cells give rise to lateral roots, which help in the absorption of water and nutrients and provide stability to the plant.
The pericambium also plays a crucial role in secondary growth, which is the increase in girth or thickness of a plant stem or root. In the process of secondary growth, the pericambium is responsible for initiating the formation of secondary vascular tissue, specifically secondary xylem and secondary phloem. This contributes to the strengthening and support of the root structure.
In summary, pericambium or pericycle is a layer of cells found in the roots of plants, located between the endodermis and the vascular tissue. It is involved in the formation of lateral roots and contributes to secondary growth by generating secondary vascular tissue.
Common Misspellings for PERICAMBIUM
- oericambium
- lericambium
- -ericambium
- 0ericambium
- pwricambium
- psricambium
- pdricambium
- prricambium
- p4ricambium
- p3ricambium
- peeicambium
- pedicambium
- peficambium
- peticambium
- pe5icambium
- pe4icambium
- perucambium
- perjcambium
- perkcambium
- perocambium
Etymology of PERICAMBIUM
The word "pericambium" is a scientific term used in botany to refer to the region of actively dividing cells found in the outer layer of the plant stem. The etymology of the word can be broken down as follows:
- The prefix "peri-" is derived from the Greek word "perí" (περί), which means "around" or "surrounding".
- The term "cambium" comes from the Latin word "cambium", which translates to "exchange" or "exchangeable substance".
When combined, "pericambium" can be understood to mean the layer of cells that surrounds or borders the cambium, emphasizing its position in relation to the inner tissue of the stem.
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