Which is correct w.r.t. bark

Options

A. It includes all tissues external to phellogen
B. It is a part of cork
C. Its outer layered is peeled off
D. Its removal has no effect on life of a tree

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Bark**: Bark is defined as all the tissues outside the vascular cambium in a plant. This includes various layers that contribute to the protective outer covering of the plant.

2. **Identifying the Layers of Bark**: The bark consists of several layers:
- **Periderm**: The outermost layer, which includes:
- **Phellogen (cork cambium)**: A layer of meristematic tissue that produces cork cells.
- **Phellem (cork)**: The protective outer layer produced by the phellogen.
- **Phelloderm**: The layer of living cells produced by the phellogen towards the inside.
- **Cortex**: The layer beneath the periderm, which includes the primary cortex and pericycle.
- **Phloem**: The inner layer that transports nutrients.

3. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Option 1**: "Bark includes all the tissue external to the phellogen." This statement is correct as bark is defined as all tissues outside the vascular cambium, which includes the phellogen and everything external to it.
- **Option 2**: "It is a part of the cork." This statement is incorrect because cork (phellem) is a component of the periderm, not the bark itself.
- **Option 3**: "Its outer layer is peeled off." This statement is also incorrect; the outer layer of bark does not simply peel off.
- **Option 4**: "Its removal has no effect on the life of a tree." This statement is incorrect because the bark plays a crucial role in protecting the tree and its removal can adversely affect the tree's health.

4. **Conclusion**: The only correct statement regarding bark is Option 1, which accurately describes the composition of bark.