the cortex consists of multiple layers of cells located between the epidermis and the pericycle . The stele is a collective term for all tissues found on the inner side of the endodermis, which includes the pericycle, vascular bundles, and pith . In both roots and stems, the cortex occupies the area from just below the outermost epidermal layer down to the endodermis, which is the boundary of the stele [1-3].