Is pith a ground tissue with no specialized function?

Question

Here is a question from the book My Max Score SAT Biology E/M Subject Test* (where the SAT is the exam taken by American high school students): > Ground tissue with no specialized function A. Xylem B. Phloem C. Cambium D. Bark E. Pith Here, I can eliminate A, B, and D because these are dermal and vascular tissues while a ground tissue is what's between those. As for the remaining variants, cambium is a tissue that gives rise to other tissues and is responsible for the plant's growth up and to the sides. Pith is a tissue in the very center of the plant stem and is responsible for storage of nutrients. While trying to understand the question, I even found info that it is a type of vascular tissue because it is involved in plant transport (https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-functions-of-piths-in-a-plant) although I'm not sure if it's correct (yeah, I know that Quora is not the website with absolutely credible info). So, as I can see, both cambium and pith have their function. Then, I decided to determine whether they are a kind of ground tissue. Pith definitely is a ground tissue, according to its definitions. However, I could not find what kind of tissue cambium was considered to be. With all that said, I can't be sure to choose either answer. First, both tissues have their functions. Second, pith is a ground tissue, and cambium is undetermined for me. Here is the answer, however: > E. Pith is a source of unspecialized ground tissue that adds structure > to a stem at the very center. I can't be sure about this answer because unspecialized means "not designed for a particular purpose." But, as I've pointed out, both pith and cambium have their purposes/functions. Please explain why pith is written to be unspecialized. Is it because "storage" is not an "active" function like growth or transport; this tissue just exists and is able to store different substances in addition to that? Also, is cambium a ground tissue or some other type (dermal, vascular)?

Answer 1

Hi, You are correct to eliminate xylem and phloem (vascular), and bark (dermal). You should also eliminate cambium -- it is a type meristematic (active growth) tissue. There are two types of cambium -- vascular (makes secondary xylem and pholem) and dermal (makes bark). Pith is a ground tissue and it can be used for various purposes, so it is the best answer to this question.