Chapter 35.4, Problem 4CC

Summary Introduction

To explain: Whether the tree will die in weeks or in days, if a complete ring of bark around a tree trunk is removed.

Concept introduction:

In woody plants, bark refers to the group of tissues that are present outside the vascular cambium. The bark constitutes secondary phloem and periderm along with its older layers.

There are two layers of bark namely inner bark and outer bark. The inner bark constitutes the secondary phloem (produced by the vascular cambium). The outer bark contains cork cells (produced by cork cambium). The cork cells produce suberin. The suberin makes trunk and roots impermeable to water and gases. The inner living tissue exchange gases through lenticels, opening in barks.