pith

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pith

pith in botany, core of the stem of most plants. Pith is composed of large, loosely packed food-storage cells. As the stem grows older the pith usually dries out, and in some it disintegrates and the stem becomes hollow. In trees the pith becomes much reduced as the woody tissue (xylem) grows. In East Asia, rice paper is made from the pith of some shrubs. Candlewicks are made of the pith of certain rushes.

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"pith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"pith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pith.html

"pith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pith.html

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pith

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Â© A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

pith See albedo.

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DAVID A. BENDER. "pith." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "pith." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-pith.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "pith." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-pith.html

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pith

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

pith / pi[unvoicedth]/ • n. 1. soft or spongy tissue in plants or animals, in particular: ∎ spongy white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon, and other citrus fruits. ∎ Bot. the spongy cellular tissue in the stems and branches of many higher plants. ∎ archaic spinal marrow. 2. fig. the essence of something: the pith and core of socialism. 3. fig. forceful and concise expression: he writes with a combination of pith and exactitude. • v. [tr.] 1. dated, chiefly fig. remove the pith from. 2. rare pierce or sever the spinal cord of (an animal) so as to kill or immobilize it. DERIVATIVES: pith·less adj.

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"pith." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"pith." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pith.html

"pith." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pith.html

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