noun
- the outermost layer of the central cylinder in plant roots and stems, located between the endodermis and the phloem
Usage: botanical term
Examples
- The pericycles in the root contain cells that can divide to form lateral roots.
- Botanists study the pericycles to understand how plants develop their vascular systems.
- The pericycles play an important role in the formation of secondary growth in plants.
- Students examined cross-sections of stems to identify the pericycles under the microscope.
- The cells of the pericycles retain their ability to undergo cell division throughout the plant’s life.