Bark (botany)

Bark (botany)

Bark is the outermost layer of a tree, woody vine, or other plant that is perennial in nature. It overlays the wood and consists of the periderm, cork cambium, and all the tissues outside it.

Pronunciation

Bark is pronounced as /bɑːrk/.

Etymology

The term "bark" comes from the Old Norse "bǫrkr" and is related to the Middle Low German "borke".

Function

The primary function of bark is to protect the tree from various external factors such as fire, insects, and diseases. It also helps in reducing water loss from the tree.

Types of Bark

There are two types of bark:

1. Living bark or inner bark (also known as phloem) which transports nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the tree. 2. Dead bark or outer bark which protects the tree from external damage.

Related Terms

Cork: A type of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use, primarily in wine bottles and bulletin boards.
Periderm: A protective tissue that replaces the epidermis in plants during secondary growth.
Cork cambium: A tissue found in many vascular plants as part of the periderm.
Phloem: The living tissue that transports the soluble organic compounds made during photosynthesis and known as photosynthates, in particular, sugar, from leaves to the rest of the plant.