What is a sclerenchyma cell?

Answer 1

Sclerenchyma cells are the dead cells and they are devoid of protoplasm.The walls of Sclerenchyma are greatly thickened with deposition of lignin. Such cells are called lignified.Due to excessive thickening of the walls of sclerenchyma cell, its cell cavity or lumen is nearly absent.

Answer 2

There are three basic plant cell types, parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma cells. Sclerenchyma cells are the strongest of the three and this is a result of the cell a second cell wall which is hardened by lignin, making these cells very durable and tough. The lignin however besides making the cells as tough as they are also make them just as rigid. This difference from collenchyma cells results in the sclerenchyma cells being unable to grow with a plant. Therefore, the sclerenchyma cells are found only in the parts of the plant which aren't lengthening anymore. Numerous amounts of sclerenchyma cells, die when they reach maturity, such as the sclerenchyma cells that are found within the vascular system. The cytoplasm and the organelles of these dead cells disintegrate, however, since the sclerenchyma cells contain lignin in their second cell wall, they are rigid, as mentioned before, so when the disintegration is over, the rigid cell walls remain and provide a sort of skeletal support for the water-conducting tissue or in some cases the plant itself. Sclerenchyma cells actually form a major part of fruit pits and also the hard outer shell of nuts. These cells can also be found in stems and leaf veins and, the sclerenchyma cells are responsible for the gritty texture of Pears. Humans use sclerenchyma cells fibers, not the actual cell, to make linen and rope. So furthermore, sclerenchyma cells are quite special for the basic plant cell they are.

Answer 3

SclerenchymaMature sclerenchyma cells are dead and have secondary cell walls thickened with cellulose and usually impregnated with lignin. In contrast to collenchyma, which is pliable, sclerenchyma is elastic. The cell cavity or lumen is very small or it may disappear completely. There are two types of sclerenchyma cells, namely sclereids and fibres.

1. Sclereids: The cells are irregular in shape. The cell walls are thick, hard and lignified which makes the lumen very small. Simple pits (canals) are found in the thickened cell walls and link adjacent cells. Sclereids are commonly found in fruit and seeds.
2. Fibres: The cells are needle-shaped with pointed tips, thick walls and rather small lumen. Secondary cell walls, impregnated with, are formed. Simple pits are also present. Fibres are abundant in the vascular tissue of angiosperms, i.e. flowering plants.

Functions:

• sclerenchyma is an important supporting tissue in plants,
• sclereids are responsible for the hardness of date seedsand the shell of walnut,
• fibres probably play a role in the transport of water in the plant,
• starch granules are stored in the young, living fibres.

Answer 4

Sclerenchyma cells (or scleroids) are hardened cells, found in such fruits as pears. When you eat a pear, the gritty texture you feel are Sclerechyma cells.

Answer 5

Sclerenchyma is a dead tissue , it has thick walled cells that have a deposition of lignin. It provides mechanical strength.