Vascular cambium and cork cambium are

Options

A. lateral meristems
B. intercalary meristems
C. primary meristems
D. apical meristems.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Types of Meristems**:
- Meristems are regions in plants where cells are actively dividing, leading to growth. They are categorized into three main types: apical meristems, lateral meristems, and intercalary meristems.

2. **Identifying Vascular Cambium**:
- The vascular cambium is classified as a lateral meristem. It is responsible for the secondary growth of plants, which increases their girth (width). This occurs after the plant has reached a certain height.

3. **Composition of Vascular Cambium**:
- Vascular cambium consists of two parts:
- **Interfascicular Cambium**: Located between vascular bundles (fascicles).
- **Intrafascicular Cambium**: Located within the vascular bundles.
- Together, these form a continuous ring of cambium.

4. **Function of Vascular Cambium**:
- The primary function of the vascular cambium is to produce secondary vascular tissues, specifically secondary xylem (wood) and secondary phloem (inner bark).

5. **Identifying Cork Cambium**:
- Cork cambium is also a type of lateral meristem. It forms from the outer layer of the primary cortex and contributes to the formation of cork, which is part of the bark of the tree.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Both vascular cambium and cork cambium are classified as lateral meristems. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that they are lateral meristems.

**Final Answer**: Vascular cambium and cork cambium are lateral meristems.

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