Question

Is cork living or dead?

Answer 1

Cork:

1. A mature cork cell is non-living, with cell walls made of a waxy substance called suberin, which is highly impermeable to gases.
2. Plants with cork cells lose less water and are more resistant to bacterial and fungal infections.
3. When they get older and girthier, they start to emerge around the edges of roots and stems.
4. The cork cambium is a type of epidermis tissue found in many vascular plants.
5. Between the cork and primary phloem, it is one of the many layers of bark.
6. The cork cambium is a lateral meristem that is responsible for secondary growth in roots and stems that replaces the epidermis.
7. It can be found in a variety of woody and herbaceous dicots, gymnosperms, and monocots (monocots usually lack secondary growth).