The function of pith in plant is

1. Analyze the question The question asks about the function of the pith in a plant. The pith is found in the centre of the stems of dicotyledonous plants, inside the ring of vascular bundles.

2. Explain the concept The pith (also called the medulla) is made of thin-walled parenchyma cells. These cells are soft and spongy, with large intercellular spaces. Their main roles are:

• Storage of food and water
• Transport of nutrients over short distances between cells
• Support, by keeping the cells turgid

3. Go through the options

• A. Absorb mineral salt and nutrients from the soil. This is the job of the root hairs, not the pith. ✗
• B. Pith is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants, made of spongy parenchyma cells that store and transport nutrients. This matches the function of the pith. ✓
• C. Trap chlorophyll from sunlight. Chlorophyll is not trapped from sunlight. Chlorophyll itself traps light energy, and this happens in the chloroplasts of the leaves. ✗
• D. Removal of waste products. This is excretion, which in plants happens through stomata, lenticels and so on, not the pith. ✗

4. Answer

5. Exam tip Link the word to its tissue type: Pith = Parenchyma = Storage. Also remember that the root absorbs, the leaf photosynthesizes, and the xylem and phloem do the long-distance transport.