Kambiumi

Kambiumi is a term used in botany to refer to the vascular cambium, a lateral meristem responsible for secondary growth in many vascular plants. In sources where it appears, kambiumi denotes the tissue that forms a cylindrical layer between the primary xylem inside and the primary phloem outside in stems and roots of woody plants and some perennials.

Anatomy and development: The vascular cambium comprises initial cells that give rise to new vascular tissues. It has components that produce secondary xylem (wood) toward the inside and secondary phloem toward the outside. Through repeated divisions, the cambium enlarges the girth of stems and roots, leading to the formation of annual growth rings in temperate species.

Function and growth: The cambium is essential for radial (secondary) growth, allowing plants to increase diameter and transport water and sugars more effectively as they mature. Its activity is seasonal in many trees, with periods of dormancy followed by reactivation in spring and summer. The ongoing balance of xylem and phloem production supports mechanical strength and nutrient transport.

Regulation and variation: Cambial activity is modulated by hormonal signals, especially auxin and cytokinins, and by environmental factors such as temperature, water availability, and nutrient status. In herbaceous species, cambial activity may be limited or absent, whereas many woody species rely on a healthy cambial zone for continued growth and wood production.

Taxonomic and practical significance: Understanding kambiumi, or the vascular cambium, is fundamental in plant anatomy, wood science, and forestry. It influences wood quality, timber yields, and carbon sequestration. The term kambiumi is encountered in certain linguistic or historical contexts as an alternative form of cambium.