Answer
The vascular cambium is a type of lateral meristem that plays a crucial role in secondary growth in plants. It produces the following:
1. Secondary Xylem
- Description: Commonly known as wood.
- Function: Provides structural support and conducts water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant.
- Formation: Produced toward the interior of the plant stem or root.
2. Secondary Phloem
- Description: The outer layer of the vascular tissue.
- Function: Transports sugars and other metabolic products from the leaves to other parts of the plant.
- Formation: Produced toward the exterior of the plant stem or root.
Additional Information:
- Growth Rings: The vascular cambium contributes to the formation of growth rings in woody plants. These rings are the result of variations in the production of secondary xylem and secondary phloem over different seasons or years.
- Cork Cambium: While not directly produced by the vascular cambium, the activity of the vascular cambium often results in the formation of a cork cambium (phellogen) in the outer layers, which generates cork cells (phellem) and contributes to the formation of bark.
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