cambium, a zone of dividing cells in plants such as the grapevine; the inner cells develop into xylem and later differentiate into wood, while the outer cells develop into phloem and, later, bark. The matching of cambial zones is important to the success of budding and grafting.

The cork cambium cuts off non-living suberized cells yielding bark, as during vine cane ripening. Of course the cork most readily associated with wine is the cork derived from the secondary cambium of quercus suber and used as closures.