Wutz (1955) defined Lenticel as a small portion of the periderm where the activity of the phellogen is more than elsewhere, and the cork cells produced by it are lossely arranged and possess numerous intercellular spaces.

Usually in the periderm of most of the plants, certain areas with loosely arranged cells are found, which posses more or less raised and corky sports where the underneath tissues break through the epidermis. Lenticels are universally found on the stem of woody plants. These are found scattered throughout the stem or radially arranged or vertically arranged in rows.

Development of Lenticels:-

Lenticels originate beneath stomata, simultaneous with the initiation of the first layer or periderm or just before the inition of periderm, during first growing season. As the lenticels formation starts, the parenchyma cells found near substomatal cavity lose their chlorophyll content and irregularly divide in different plants giving rise to a mass of colourless, rounded, thin walled, lossely arranged cells called Complementary cells. Some times complementary cells produced by phellogen towards outside instead of producing cork cells.

As the complementary cells increase in number, pressure is exerted against the epidermis and it ruptures. Outer most cells gradually become dead and may replaced by crok cells. Beneath the outer layer some mass of closely packed cells alternate to lossley arranged cells are formed called as Closing layer. From inner side continuous production of complementary cells cause rupture of closing layer at intervals.

Function:-

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i) Lenticels contain profuse inter cellular spaces for which it perform the function of exchange of gases between the atmosphere and internal tissue of the stem.

ii) Lenticels like Stomata help in transpiration. Called Lenticelar transpiration.

iii) Lenticels are active during night when stomatal transpiration stop.