| an area of primary meristematic tissue, emerging from and immediately behind the apical meristem, that develops into the pith and the cortex. |
| ground meristem n. The primary meristem that differentiates into the pith and cortex. |
| ground meristem
The primary meristem in vascular plants that gives rise to the nonvascular tissues, such as cortex, pericycle, and pith. Within the seeds of angiosperms, it surrounds the procambium. |