1. Plural of phellem; layers of cork tissue formed in plants as part of the periderm, providing protection and waterproofing to stems and roots.
Usage: botanical term; technical

Examples

• The phellems in tree bark provide a protective barrier against water loss and disease.
• As the plant matures, phellems develop to replace the epidermis.
• The formation of phellems is part of the plant's secondary growth process.
• Botanists study phellems to understand how plants adapt to environmental stress.