Cortex (botany)

[1] The cortex is composed mostly of large thin-walled parenchyma cells of the ground tissue system and shows little to no structural differentiation.

[3] In the three dimensional structure of herbaceous stems, the epidermis, cortex and vascular cambium form concentric cylinders around the inner cylindrical core of pith.

It is responsible for the transportation of materials into the central cylinder of the root through diffusion and may also be used for storage of food in the form of starch.

[5] In the roots of vascular plants, the cortex occupies a larger portion of the organ's volume than in herbaceous stems.

The loosely packed cells of root cortex allow movement of water and oxygen in the intercellular spaces.