"Corticate" is a term used in botany to describe plants with a thick, protective outer bark layer. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to describe this trait. For example, "corky" is a commonly used term to describe plants with a protective layer similar to cork, such as oak and birch. Other synonyms include "rhytidome," referring to the outermost layer of a plant's bark, and "periderm," a term that describes the protective layer that replaces the epidermis in woody plants. These synonyms all describe the same basic characteristic of plants and can be used interchangeably in scientific discussions and research.