Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants.

Pith is
composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which store and transport
nutrients throughout the plant. In eudicots, pith is located in the center of
the stem. In monocots, it extends also into flowering stems and roots. The
pith is encircled by a ring of xylem; the xylem, in turn, is encircled by a ring
of phloem. [1]
The pith occupies the large central part of the stem. It consists of thinwalled parenchyma cells with intercellular air spaces. Between each vascular
bundle is a band of parenchyma, the medullary rays, continuous with the
cortex and the pith. The cells of the pith functions as storage for water and
starch. They allow for the exchange of gases through the intercellular air
spaces. The medullary rays transport substances from the xylem and phloem
to the inner and outer parts of the stem. [2]

1. Pith. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith. Date modified 19

October 2015. Date
accessed 16 November 2015.
2. Dictionary.com
January 2011.

Unabridged.

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