pachycaulous

The term "pachycaulous" describes plants with thick, stout stems. This characteristic is often seen in cycads, where the stem is covered by hardened leaf bases, giving it a stout appearance. Internally, these stems are typically soft and fleshy, containing a thick cortex and a large pith, with relatively little woody tissue. The thick stem structure in cycads results from the activity of a primary thickening meristem, which produces a greater amount of cortical parenchyma compared to plants with only an apical meristem. This contrasts with plants like cacti, which are succulents adapted to dry conditions and store water in their thick, fleshy stems or leaves.12