Cork cambium

The cork cambium or cork cambium is a secondary formation of tissue ( meristem ) in the outer region of the shoot cross-section of dicotyledonous plants. The periclinal, ie parallel to the surface of the shoot, lying cork cambium produces cork cells through cell division to the outside ( phellem ) and inward parenchymatous cells ( phelloderm ) from. The cork cambium forms together with the phelloderm and the phellem the periderm, a secondary tissue of the shoot.

In the shoot axis, the cork cambium is formed by conversion of already differentiated collenchyme or parenchymal cells in meristematic active cells. A special role is played by the cork cambium in the extraction of raw material for the manufacture of bottle caps from cork tissue at the cork oak ( Quercus suber). Here forms after peeling off the entire periderm in the underlying tissue layers quickly a new and very active cork cambium, which compensates for the loss of tissue. In the beech ( Fagus sylvatica), the cork cambium remains constantly active and forms a thick Korkgewebeschicht on the trunk and branches.