phellem
/ˈfɛlɛm/
noun
- The outer, corky layer of bark on trees and woody plants that protects them from damage and water loss.
- Under the microscope, the phellem appears as a layer of dead cells.
- The thick phellem on the tree trunk helped it survive the dry season.
- The phellem of the cork oak is harvested to make bottle stoppers.
Synonyms