aerenchyma
/ɛˈrɛŋkɪmə/
noun
- A spongy tissue in some plants that has large air spaces, allowing gases to move through the plant, especially in water plants.
- The aerenchyma in rice plants allows oxygen to reach the roots even in flooded fields.
- Scientists study aerenchyma to understand how plants survive in wetlands.
- Water lilies have aerenchyma in their stems to help them float.