Cambium

Cork cambium viewed under a microscope

This article is about the type of plant tissue. For the membrane surrounding bone, seeperiosteum.For the software company, seeCambium Learning Group.For the hardware company, seeCambium Networks.

Acambium(pl.:cambiumsorcambia), in plants, is a tissue layer that provides partially undifferentiatedcellsfor plant growth. It is found in the area betweenxylemandphloem.A cambium can also be defined as a cellular plant tissue from which phloem, xylem, or cork grows by division, resulting (in woody plants) in secondary thickening. It forms parallel rows of cells, which result in secondary tissues.

There are several distinct kinds of cambium found in plant stems and roots:

• Cork cambium,a tissue found in many vascular plants as part of theperiderm.
• Unifacial cambium,which ultimately produces cells to the interior of its cylinder.
• Vascular cambium,a lateralmeristemin the vascular tissue of plants.

Uses

The cambium of many species ofwoody plantsare edible;however, due to its vital role in thehomeostasisand growth of woody plants, this may result in death of the plant if enough cambium is removed at once. The cambium can generally be eaten raw or cooked, and can be ground toflourfor use in baking.