Question

Is Phellem dead?

Answer 1

Phellem:

1. Phellem is a non-vascular plant tissue present on the outer side of the bark.
2. It is made from the meristematic tissue cork cambium.
3. It is made up of dead cells formed on the outer side of phellogen (secondary meristem initiating phellem).
4. Phellem is a protective tissue due to the suberisation rendering the cell impermeable.
5. Due to the result of tangential and periclinal divisions of phellogen cells towards the outer face the phellem is formed.
6. They are compactly arranged and have thin cellulose walls in the beginning.
7. As they mature there is a gradual loss of living matter and cells get elongated radially, vertically, or tangentially.
8. The cell wall becomes thick because of the development of a fatty substance called suberin.
9. It is impervious to water. So the phellem is made up of dead cells.
10. It helps to protect the underlying tissues from desiccation, heat, freezing, injury, etc.
11. Hence, yes phellem is dead.