WBBSE Class 9 Life Science Solutions Chapter 2.3A Tissue: Plant Tissue and its Distribution

Detailed explanations in West Bengal Board Class 9 Life Science Book Solutions Chapter 2.3A Tissue: Plant Tissue and its Distribution offer valuable context and analysis.

WBBSE Class 9 Science Chapter 2.3A Question Answer – Tissue: Plant Tissue and its Distribution

Very Short Questions and Answers : (1 mark for each question)

Question 1.
Which type of parenchyma is involved in it aiding photosynthesis within it?
Answer:
Chlorenchyma is involved in holding photosynthesis within it.

Question 2.
Which type of tissue in fruits form roughage a our food diet?
Answer:
Fruits containing sclerenchyma tissue, form roughage of our food diet.

Question 3.
Which tissue is also known as leptome?
Answer:
Phloem tissue is also known as leptome.

Question 4.
Which type of simple permanent tissue has evenly thick cell wall around dead cells?
Answer:
Sclerenchyma has evenly thick cell wall around dead cells.

Question 5.
Which type of scierenchyma cells make the fruits like guava, pear etc. harder?
Answer:
Sclereid cells make the fruits like guava, pear etc. harder.

Question 6.
How do the large air-filled intercellular spaces of parenchyma tissue in petioles of lotus plant help it?
Answer:
The large air-filled intercellular spaces of parenchyma tissue in petioles of lotus plant help it to maintain its buoyancy and to float on water.

Question 7.
Which is the non-living component of phloem?
Answer:
Phloem fibre is the non-living component of phloem tissue.

Question 8.
Which type of tissue is the cork cambium?
Answer:
Cork cambium is a secondary meristematic tissue.

Question 9.
From which type of tissue does permanent tissue develop?
Answer:
Permanent tissues develop from meristematic tissue.

Question 10.
Name the cells of parenchyma tissue in which plants store their excretory matter.
Answer:
Plants store their excretory matter in idioblast cells of parenchyma tissue.

Question 11.
Which type of meristem occurs along the longitudinal plane of the plant body?
Answer:
Lateral meristem occurs along the longitudinal plane of the plant body.

Question 12.
Which type of meristem is seen in the leatbase of pine?
Answer:
Intercalary meristem is seen in the leaf-base of pine.

Question 13.
Which simple permanent tissue is totally devoid of intercellular space?
Answer:
Sclerenchyma tissue is totally devoid of intercellular space.

Question 14.
Which cells do not directly take part in transportation of food in plants but help in this process?
Answer:
Companion cells do not directly take part in food transport but help sieve tubes to do so.

Question 15.
Which simple permanent tissue is responsible for adding mechanical strength to the plant body?
Answer:
Sclerenchyma tissue is responsible for adding mechanical strength to the plant body.

Question 16.
Which plant tissue is involved in ascent of sap?
Answer:
Xylem is involved in the ascent of sap.

Question 17.
Which plant tissue is involved in the transportation of food within the plant body?
Answer:
Phloem is involved in the transportation of food within the plant body.

Question 18.
Which type of cambium is also known as fascicular cambium?
Answer:
Vascular cambium is also known as fascicular cambium.

Question 19.
Which cell of phloem takes part in transportation of food?
Answer:
Sieve tubes take part in transportation of food.

Question 20.
Which cell is accompanied by companion cells?
Answer:
Companion cells accompany the sieve tube of plant cells.

Question 21.
Which is the only living member of xylem tissue?
Answer:
Xylem parenchyma is the only living member of xylem tissue.

Question 22.
Which meristem helps in increasing girth of the plant?
Answer:
Leteral meristem helps in increasing girth of the plant

Question 23.
Which cells of zylem exclusively provide mechanical support to the plant body?
Answer:
Xylem fibres exclusively provide mechanical support to the plant body.

Question 24.
Which tissue is predaminant in a hard woody plant part?
Answer:
Sclerenchyma tissue is predominant in a hard woody plant part.

Question 25.
What is the other name of cork cambium?
Answer:
The other name of cock cambium is phellogen.

Question 26.
What do companion cells do?
Answer:
Companion cells play supporting role in the conduction of food through sieve tubes.

Question 27.
Identify the main types of tissue present in pith of stem and husk of coconut.
Answer:
In the pith of stem, parenchyma tissue and in husk of coconut, sclerenclyma tissue is present.

Question 28.
What is chlorenchyma?
Answer:
The parenchyma tissue, carrying chloroplastids and acting as the site of photosynthesis is known as chlorenchyma.

Short Questions and Answers : (2 marks for each question)

Question 1.
Mention the correlation amongst cells, tissues, organs and body.
Answer:
Cells are the structural and functional unit of living body. Cells of same origin and function having similar or dissimilar structures constitute a tissue. One or more types of tissue when unite to perform a specific function, form a tissue system. Several tissue systems constitute an organ and various organs form a body.

Question 2.
For which type of plant tissue the phrase ‘Three in one’ is appropriate? Justify your answer.
Answer:
1. The phrase ‘Three in one’ is appropriate for the three types of meristem, based on their function.

2. Based on their function, meristems can be of three types-protoderm, procambium and ground meristem. Protoderm gives rise to epidermal layer of different plant parts, procambium gives rise to vascular tissues and ground meristem produces cortex, pith etc. Thus, the total plant body is made from these three meristems. So the statement is justified.

Question 3.
What do you mean by wood fibre? What is bast fibre?
Answer:
Wood fibre: Sclerenchyma fibre associated with xylem tissue is called wood fibre. It provides mechanical strength to the plant.

Bast fibre: Sclerenchyma fibre associated with phloem tissue is called bast fibre. It is responsible for making plant parts strong and also stores food.

Question 4.
What is the utility of tissues in multicellular organisms?
Answer:
Different utility of tissues in multicellular organisms are as follows-

• Tissue brings division of labour to increase efficiency.
• Tissues become organised to form organs and organ systems.
• Decreases the work load of individual cells.
• Chances of survival of these organisms increase due to higher efficiency and better organisation.

Question 5.
Why are some specific types of sclereids called stone cells?
Answer:
The deposition of lignin, cutin and suberin on the cell wall of some short and oval or spherical shaped sclereids, makes them hard like stones. The lumen of such cells are almost squeezed due to deposition. That is why, these special type of sclereids are called stone cells. Stone cells are responsible for mechanical support.

Question 6.
Mention the functions of cork cambium and vascular cambium.
Answer:

• Functions of cork cambium: It takes part in the growth of outer part of plant body beyond vascular bundle, to produce cortex and bark to replace ruptured epidermis.
• Functions of vascular cambium: It takes part in the formation of xylem and phloem within vascular bundle.

Question 7.
Mention the occurrence of parenchyma cells.
Answer:
The occurrence of parenchyma tissue is as follows-

• It is seen in the epidermis of all plant parts.
• It is present in ground tissue of plants including cortex, medulla and medullary rays.
• Mesophyll tissue of leaves is composed of parenchyma.
• It occurs in endosperm of seeds.

Question 8.
Where do you find xylem tissues?
Answer:
Components of xylem tissues are found in the following parts of plant-

• Tracheids and trachea occur in vascular bundle of root, stem and leaf.
• Xylem fibres are seen in vascular and cortex region of woody plants.
• Xylem parenchyma cells are present in vascular region of gymnosperms and dicot plants.

Question 9.
Where do you find collenchyma tissue?
Answer:
Collenchyma tissue is mainly found in the hypodermis of stem. Mid-rib and petiole the of leaves and peduncle of flowers are made up of collenchyma.

Question 10.
Mention the features of different types of collenchyma.
Answer:
Features of different types of collenchyma are as follows-

• Angular collenchyma cells have thickened corners.
• Lacunate collenchyma cells have thick walls near the intercellular spaces.
• Lamellate collenchyma cells have thick walls at the point of contact with adjacent cells.

Question 11.
Mention the different types of sclerenchyma, based on their features?
Answer:
Features of different types of sclerenchyma are as follows-

• Sclerenchyma fibres are long and narrow cells with pointed ends.
• Sclereids are broad with thick walled cells which occur singly or in small groups.

Question 12.
Where do you find sclerenchyma tissue in a plant?
Answer:
Components of sclerenchyma are found in the following parts of plant-

• Sclerenchyma fibres are present in the hypodermis, cortex, vascular bundles and pericycle.
• Sclereids are found in seed coats.

Question 13.
Mention the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Answer:
Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell

Question 14.
Distinguish between meristematic tissue and permanent tissue.
Answer:

Feature	Meristematic tissue	Permanent tissue
1. Nature	Always living	Living or dead
2. Cell wall	Very thin and soft	Comparatively thick and rigid
3. Cytoplasm	Dense and spread all over the cell	Reduced as primordial utricle or totally absent
4. Vacuoie	Absent or very small	Very large
5. Divisibility	Divisible	Indivisible

Question 15.
Distinguish between simple permanent tissue and complex permanent tissue.
Answer:

Feature	Simple permanent tissue	Complex permanent tissue
1. Ceil types	Composed of similar types of cells	Composed of different types of cells
2. Cell wall	Thin, evenly or unevenly thickened	Evenly thickened
3. Vascular bundle formation	Does not form vascular bundle only helps to form it	Directly takes part in vascular bundle formation
4. Function	Formation of plant body, synthesis and storage of food	The absorbed materials from the roots are transported throughout the plant body

Question 16.
Distinguish between xylem and phloem.
Answer:

Feature	xylem	Phloem
1. Structural components	Tracheid, trachea, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibre; except xylem parenchyma, other components are dead	Sieve tube, companion cell, phloem parenchyma and phloem fibre; except pholem fibre, other components are living
2. Elements for transportation	Tracheid and trachea	Sieve tube
3. Direction of transportation	Against gravity	Transportation occurs irrespective of gravity
4. Function	Ascent of sap	Transportation of food

Question 17.
Distinguish between tracheid and trachea.
Answer:

Features	Sieve tube	Companion cell
1. Nucleus	Absent	Present
2. Shape	Cylindrical	Lens shaped
3. Cell plate	Porous, produces sieve like structure	Intact, no pore can be seen
4. Function	Transportation of food	Storage of food and helping in transportation of food through sieve tube

Question 18.
Distinguish between xylem fibre and phloem fibre.
Answer:

Features	Sieve tube	Companion cell
1. Nucleus	Absent	Present
2. Shape	Cylindrical	Lens shaped
3. Cell plate	Porous, produces sieve like structure	Intact, no pore can be seen
4. Function	Transportation of food	Storage of food and helping in transportation of food through sieve tube

Question 19.
Distinguish between xylem fibre and phloem fibre.
Answer:

Features	Xylem fibres	Phloem fibres
1. Occurrence	Sclerenchyma cells present in xylem	Sclerenchyma cells present in phloem
2. Shape	Narrower lumen, ends tapered to a point	Wider lumen, ends are blunt
3. Wall thickness	More thickened due to lignification	Less thickened, either lignified or non-lignified
4. Rigidity	More rigid	Comparatively flexible

Question 20.
Distinguish between trachea and seive tube.
Answer:

Features	Trachea	Sieve tube
1. Nature of cell	Dead	Living
2. Sieve plate	Absent	Present, perforations clogged with callose
3. Cell wall	Thickened with secondary thickening of lignin	Comparatively thin, primary wall lignified
4. Function	Ascent of sap against gravity	Transportation of food occurs irrespective of gravity

Long Questions and Answers : (5 marks for each question)

Question 1.
What is meant by tissue? How plant tissues can be classified into different types?
Answer:
Tissue
Tissue is the assemblage of a number of structurally similar or dissimilar cells having same origin and function.
Classification of different plant tissues:

Question 2.
What is meant by meristem or meristematic tissue? Describe the characteristic features of the meristematic tissue with a simple diagram.
Answer:
Meristem or meristematic tissue

Meristems or meristematic tissues are cells or group of cells that are capable of undergoing cell division.

• Cells are living, undifferentiated, polygonal, spherical or oval in shape.
• Cells are densely packed and without intercellular spaces.
• Cell wall is thin, made up of cellulose.
• Nucleus is large and distinct.
• Cytoplasm is dense, vacuoles generally absent.
• The cells are capable of undergoing cell division.

Question 3.
Describe the distribution of different meristematic tissues.
Answer:
Distribution of meristematic tissues:
Based on occurrence, meristematic tissues can be sub-divided into three types, which are as follows-

1. Apical meristem: It occurs at the tip of roots and shoots. This tissue helps the plant to grow in length.

2. Intercalary meristem: It occurs near the nodes of growing shoots, in between two layers of permanent tissues. This makes the young internodes longer and also helps in the growth of leaves.

3. Lateral meristem: It occurs along the lateral position of roots and stems of higher plants. It divides laterally and makes the plant thicker. It is of two types

• Vascular cambium (fascicular cambium): It occurs within vascular bundle to form new xylem and phloem.
• Cork cambium (phellogen): It occurs outside vascular bundle and takes part in the growth of outer layers of the stem and root.

Question 4.
What is meant by permanent tissue? Mention the characteristic features of permanent tissues.
Answer:
Permanent tissues.
The plant tissues in which cells have lost their capability of undergoing cell division are known as permanent tissues.

Characteristic features of permanent tissue:
The characteristic features of permanent tissue are as follows-

• Cells of these tissues do not divide and have no role in plant growth.
• Cells are differentiated into definite size, shape, structure and function.
• Cells have larger vacuoles. Cell walls may be thin or thick. Often ornamentations are seen on cell wall. Intercellular spaces are often present.
• These tissues comprise of either dead or living cells. In living cells, protoplasm is reduced with smaller nucleus.
• These tissues are involved in protection, support, transportation or secretion. Metabolic rate is slower in comparison to meristematic cells.

Question 5.
Describe the characteristic features of parenchyma tissue with simple diagram. Mention its functions in a plant body.
Answer:
Characteristic features of parenchyma tissue

The characteristic features of parenchyma tissue are as follows:

• Cells are living and thin walled, almost equal in size and shape.
• Cells are loosely packed with distinct intercellular spaces.
• Vacuoles are large. Cytoplasm becomes peripheral, forming primordial utricle with a distinct nucleus.

Functions of parenchyma tissue:
The functions of parenchyma tissue are as follows-

• Simple parenchyma cells occur in the ground tissue and store food.
• Aerenchyma maintains buoyancy in floating and submerged aquatic plants.
• Chlorenchyma takes part in photosynthesis.
• Idioblasts store mineral crystals, oil, excretory matter etc.
• Parenchyma allows movement of gases and gaseous exchange because of the presence of intercellular spaces in it.
• As epidermis or epiblemma, parenchyma protects all plant parts.

Question 6.
Describe the characteristic features of collenchyma tissue with diagram. Mention the function of this tissue.
Answer:
Characteristic features of collenchyma tissue

The characteristic features of collenchyma tissue are as follows-

• Cells are living and are of almost identical size. They are cylindrical, but in cross-section appear polygonal.
• Cell wall is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin, unevenly thickened at the corners.
• Intercellular space is reduced.
• Vacuole is large. Cytoplasm present as primordial utricle. Chloroplast may be present.

Functions of collenchyma tissue
The functions of collenchyma tissue are as follows-

• Provides mechanical strength.
• Provides flexibility to plant parts and Labelled diagram of collenchyma tissue prevents from breaking.
• This type of tissue helps to store food.
• It also carries out photosynthesis.

Question 7.
Describe the characteristic features of scierenchyma tissue with diagram. Mention the functions of this tissue.
Answer:
Characteristic features of sclerenchyma tissue

The characteristic features of sclerenchyma tissue are as follows-

• Cells are dead when mature, devoid of protoplasm and have narrow lumen.
• Cells are without inter-cellular space.
• Cell wall is evenly thickened and highly lignified.
• At some points, pits are present on the cell wall.
• Some cells are thin, elongated and pointed. These are called sclerenchyma fibres. Some are wide with very thick cell wall, which are called sclereids.

Functions of sclerenchyma tissue
The functions of sclerenchyma tissue are as follows-

• Provides mechanical strength.
• Makes the plant parts rigid.
• Sclereids especially form tough seed coat of legume fruits and endocarp of drupe.
• This tissue also protects plant parts from getting wet.

Question 8.
Name the componants of xylem. Describe the characteristic features of these components.
Answer:
Components of Xylem

Xylem has four typical components, these are tracheid, tracheae or vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres.

Characteristic features of xylem components
The characteristic features of xylem components are as follows-

• Tracheids are dead, elongated cells with pointed ends. Uneven lignified thickening of walls create different patterns. Pits are present in the cell wall. These cells take part in water transportation through the unthickened parts.
• Vessels or tracheae are long, tubular dead cells without end walls. Lumen is wider than in tracheids. The wall of the vessels possess many pits. These cells also carry sap. Numerous cells are arranged in a row to form long continuous vessels.
• Xylem fibres are dead cells, very thin & long with pointed ends. Cell wall is thick with a narrow lumen. These cells provide mechanical strength and rigidity to the plant body.
• Xylem parenchyma is the only living member of the xylem tissue. It has thin cell wall and it contains protoplasm.

Question 9.
Name different components of phloem. Describe the characteristic features of these components.
Answer:
Components of phloem

Phloem has four typical components, these are sieve tube, companion cell, phloem parenchyma and phloem fibre.

Characteristic features of phloem components
The characteristic features of phloem components are as follows-

• Sieve tubes are living cylindrical cells with perforated end walls, called sieve plates. Nucleus is absent in matured cells. Several sieve tubes are arranged in a row forming a long tube. These help in transportation and storage of food.
• Companion cells are lens-shaped cells with prominent nucleus and dense cytoplasm. They are present on either side of sieve tube. These help sieve tube in tranporation of food.
• Phloem parenchyma has granular cytoplasm and thin cell wall made up of cellulose. This component of phloem stores organic and ergastic materials.
• Phloem fibre is the only non-living component. It is elongated with lignified wall. Pits are present in the cell wall. Fibres provide mechanical support to plant parts.

Question 10.
What is sclerenchyma fibre? Where does it occur? Give a brief description of its structure.
Answer:
Sclerenchyma fibre
Long and fine sclerenchyma cells, with pointed ends and pitted wall, are known as sclerenchyma fibres.

Occurrence of sclerenchyma cells
Sclerenchyma cells occur in the hypodermis and pericycle of stem. These are seen in vascular bundle and bundle cap of dicot plants.

Structure of sclerenchyma fibres
The structure of sclerenchyma fibres is described as follows-

• Sclerenchyma fibres are very fine and long with two pointed ends.
• Cells are without intercellular spaces and are compactly arranged sidewise to form bundle.
• Cell wall is evenly thickened with bordered pits and lumen is narrow.
• Cells are dead and appear polygonal in cross-section.
• The sclerenchyma fibres occurring in xylem are called wood fibres. These fibres, when occur in phloem are called bast fibres.

Question 11.
What are trachea or vessels? Give a brief description of their structure. Mention the occurrence and functions of trachea.
Answer:
Tracheae or vessels:
Tracheae or vessels are the non-living, elongated, tubular xylem cells having highly lignified and evenly thick cell wall with bordered pits.

Structure of tracheae or vessels:
The structure of tracheae is as follows-

• These cells are dead, long and tubular in shape with completely or partially open ends.
• The wall is lignified with bordered pits. Ornamentations are often found on the wall due to uneven thickening.
• The lumen is the widest amongst all xylem components.
• Several tracheal cells remain arranged one after another to form a continuous tube due to the dissolution of end walls.

Occurrence of tracheae or vessels
These xylem components occur in all angiosperms and a gymnosperm named Gnetum.

Functions of trachea
The functions of trachea are as follows-

• It transports sap from root to leaves.
• Trachea provides mechanical support to the plant body.

Question 12.
What is xylem parenchyma? Give a brief description of its structure. Mention the occurrence and functions of xylem parenchyma.
Answer:
Xylem parenchyma
The only living cell of xylem with protoplasm, guarded by thin, cellulose-rich cell wall, is known as xylem parenchyma.

Structure of xylem parenchyma
The structure of xylem parenchyma is as follows –

• These are living cells with cytoplasm and small nucleus inside.
• Cell wall is thin and composed of cellulose.
• The cells are almost isodiametric and lateral walls have few simple pits.

Occurrence of xylem parenchyma
Xylem parenchyma is present in the vascular bundle of all angiosperms and most of the gymnosperms, except pines.

Functions of xylem parenchyma
The functions of xylem parenchyma are as follows-

• It helps in transportation of sap and also helps in lateral transportation.
• It stores nutrients like carbohydrates, fats and excretory matters like tannin, inorganic crystals etc.

Question 13
What are xylem fibres? Give a brief description of their structure. Mention the occurrence and
functions of xylem fibres.
Answer:
Xylem fibres
The dead and fine sclerenchyma cells of xylem are known as xylem fibres.

Structure of xylem fibres
The structure of xylem fibres is as follows-

• Xylem fibre cells are dead, very fine with pointed ends.
• Cells have very narrow lumen.
• Cell wall is very thick due to heavy lignification and rigid with both simple and bordered pits.
• Fibres are to two types-libriform fibre and tracheid fibre.

Occurrence of xylem fibres
Xylem fibres are present in vascular bundle of all angiosperms and most of the gymnosperms, except pines.

Functions of xylem fibres
The functions of xylem fibres are a follows-

• These provide mechanical support to plant body.
• These also store food material and certain excretory matters.

Question 14.
What is sieve tube? Give a brief description of its structure. Mention the occurrence and functions of sieve tubes.
Answer:
Sieve tube : Living elongated tubular phloem cell with sieve plates at two terminal ends and cytoplasm without nucleus is known as sieve tube.

Structure of sieve tube

The structure of sieve tube is as follows-

• Sieve tubes are tubular in shape, arranged longitudinally one after another to form a continuous pipe.
• The matured cells have cytoplasm but no nucleus inside.
• The wall is thin and composed of cellulose.
• The two terminal walls are well perforated and are called sieve plates.
• Connection between two sieve cells are made by cytoplasmic strands through sieve pores.

Occurrence of sieve tubes
Sieve tubes are present in pteridophytes and all flowering plants.

Functions of sieve tubes
The functions of sieve tubes are as follows–

• These help in transportation of food.
• These also occasionally store food.

Question 15.
What are companion cells? Give a brief description of their structure. Mention the accurreace and functions of companion cells.
Answer:
Companion cells : The living, nucleated, lens-shaped cells typically present at two sides of a sieve tube are known as companion cells.

Structure of companion cells
The structure of companion cells is as follows –

• The cells are living, full of dense cytoplasm and with a distinct nucleus inside.
• The cells have thin wall, made up of cellulose and appear triangular in cross-section.
• Laterally, these cells are lens-shaped.
• These cells keep a close association with the sieve tube through pits and plasmodesmata on lateral wall.

Occurrence of companion cells
Companion cells occur in phloem of all angiosperms and in a single gymnosperm, called Gnetum sp.

Functions of companion cells
The functions of companion cells are as follows –

• These help in transportation of food through sieve tube.
• These also store carbohydrate and help in lateral transport.

Question 16.
What is phloem parenchyma? Give a brief description of its structure. Mention the occurrence and functions of phloem parenchyma.
Answer:
Phloem parenchyma : Thin-walled, living, cylindrical cell of phloem tissue is known as phloem parenchyma.

Structure of phloem parenchyma
The structure of phloem parenchyma is as follows-

• The cell wall is thin and made up of cellulose. Rarely lignified and pitted.
• Shape of the cells are elongated, cylindrical and radially arranged with the plant axis.
• Cytoplasm of these cells stores starch, resin, tannin etc.

Occurrence of phloem parenchyma
It is seen in all dicot plants but monocot plants never possess phloem parenchyma. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms also have these cells in phloem.

Functions of phloem parenchyma
The functions of phloem parenchyina are as follows-

• It helps in food transport.
• It stores different organic matter and excretory substances.
• It helps in lateral transport of organic food matter.

Question 17.
What is phloem fibre? Give a brief description of its structure. Mention the occurrence and functions of phloem fibres.
Answer:
Phloem fibre
Phloem fibre is the only non-living component of phloem with thin, elongated shape and two pointed ends.

Structure of phloem fibre
The structure of phloem fibre is as follows-

• These cells are non-living, with very fine and hollow lumen.
• The cells are long with pointed ends.
• Cell wall is thick, well lignified and commonly have simple pits.
• The cells remain arranged one after another along the length.
• Fibres are overlapped above one another to form bundle.

Occurrence of phloem fibres
Phloem fibres are present in angiosperms only.

Functions of phloem fibres
The functions of phloem fibres are as follows-

• These provide mechanical support to the plant body.
• These also store food matter like starch.

Question 18.
Compare the characteristic features of parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.
Answer:
Comparison among parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma

Features	Parenchyma	Coilenchyma	Sclerenchyma
1. Nature	Living	Living	Non-living
2. Cell wall	Evenly thick	Unevenly thick	Evenly thick
3. Shape of cells	Spherical or oval	Elongated, polygonal in cross-section	Elongated and polygonal
4. Main component of cell wall	Cellulose	Cellulose and hemicellulose	Lignin, cutin, suberin
5. Inter-cellular space	Present	May or may not be seen	Absent
6. Ornamentation on cell wall	Absent	Absent	Absent
7. Angular thickening of ceil wall	Absent	Present	Absent
8. Function	Synthesise and store food	Synthesise food and provide mechanical support	Provide mechanical support