Tree tissue. It protects the trunk against the elements, disease, animal attack and fire. It is perforated by a large number of fine breathing pores called lenticels, through which oxygen diffuses. Bark is continually replaced by a living layer of cells called the cork cambium or phellogen. The London plane ("Platanus × acerifolia") periodically sheds its bark in large flakes. Similarly, the bark of the silver birch ("Betula pendula") peels off in strips. As the tree's girth expands, newer layers of bark are larger in circumference, and the older layers develop fissures in many species. In some trees such as the
Citrus gummy bark viroid Citrus gummy bark viroid The citrus gummy bark viroid (abbreviated CGBVd) is a sub-species of the hop stunt viroid, and thus is a member of the genus Hostuviroid. As the name suggests, the citrus gummy bark viroid causes problems in the bark of the sweet orange tree. Scrapping the bark exposes localized spots or a line of reddish-brown, gum-impregnated tissue around the scion circumference especially visible near the bud union. The discoloration and gumming may extend above the bud union to the main branches of the sweet orange while in severe infection dark streaks of gum-impregnated tissue may also be