Here's a breakdown:
* Vascular cambium: This is a lateral meristem, a layer of actively dividing cells located between the xylem and phloem in the stem and roots of woody plants.
* Xylem: This tissue transports water and dissolved minerals upwards from the roots to the rest of the plant.
* Phloem: This tissue transports sugars (produced through photosynthesis) from the leaves to other parts of the plant for growth and storage.
The vascular cambium continuously divides, producing new xylem cells on its inner side and new phloem cells on its outer side. This process is responsible for the growth in girth (width) of woody plants.
While the majority of xylem and phloem are produced by the vascular cambium, there is a small amount of these tissues that is produced by the apical meristems located at the tips of roots and shoots, contributing to their length. However, the vascular cambium plays the primary role in vascular tissue production in woody plants.
