The cell wall is thin and made up

The cells are loosely packed with

of cellulose.
large intercellular spaces occurring in-between cells.
The parenchyma tissues found in soft parts of the plant such
are
as cortex of roots,
ground tissues in stems and mesophyll of leaves.
There is a large central vacuole
and dense peripheral
nucleus. cytoplasm containing a distinct
.The cells may be oval, round,
polygonal or elongated in shape.
-cytoplasmn
-Intercellular spaces - Nucleus

- Middle lamella

-Chloroplast

Vacuole

Intercellular space
(a) Primary cell wall

b)
Parenchyma (a) Transverse section, (6)
14. Functions of Parenchyma: Longitudinal section
(i) The main function of
parenchyma is to store and assimilate food and serve food
storage tissue. as

ü) Due to turgidity
property, parenchyma forms the means of support to the stem of
herbaceous plants.
ui) Parenchyma cells of leaves
carry out photosynthesis.
containing chlorophyll are called chlorenchyma. They
(iv) Parenchyma cells of aquatic plants containing large air cavities are called
which give buoyancy to plants to help them float. aerenchyma,
(u) Parenchyma packing tissue to fill the spaces between other tissues and
serves as a
maintain the shape and firmness of the
(vi) Transport of materials occur
plant.
through cells or cell walls of parenchyma cells.
(vii) Presence of intercellular air
spaces in-between parenchyma cells allows gaseous
exchange.
(viü) Certain parenchyma cells store waste
resins of inorganic waste, etc.
products of plants such as tannin, gum, crystals,
(ix) The parenchyma of stems and roots
also store nutrients and water.
15. Collenchyma:
The cells of this tissue are
living, elongated and irregularly thickened at the corners
Intercellular space is very little.
Collenchyma occurs below the epidermis in leaf stalks, leaf mid-ribs and herbaceous
dicot stems.
Parenchyma is characterised by the deposition of extra cellulose and
pectin.
Collenchyma cells appear to be circular, oval or polygonal in crosS-section.
Their ce walls have
simple pits.
They often contain chloroplasts.
 End wall
-Wall thickenings -Primary cell wall
(thickened at corners)
Nucteus
Vacuole -Chioroplast
Cell wa
-Nucleus

-Vacuole

Cytoplasm
-Intercellular space

(a)

(6)
Collenchyma (a) Transverse section, (b) Longitudinal section
16. Functions of collenchyma
) Collenchyma is a mechanical tissue. It provides mechanical support and elasticity to
plants
u It provides tensile strength and flexibility
to the organ in which they occur.
u) It allows easy bending in various parts of a plant (leaf, stem) without breaking.
(w) When cells of collenchyma contain chloroplast, they manufacture sugar and starch (foed
17. Sclerenchyma:
Sclerenchyma cells are dead and without any protoplasm.
It is composed of long, narrow and thick-walled cells.
The walls of sclerenchyma cells are greatly thickened with deposition of lignin t s a
cement and hardens the cells).
.These cells are closely packed withoutintercellular space.
This tissue is present in stems, around vascular bundles, in the veins ofleaves andin
the hard covering of seeds and nuts.
Husk of coconut is made of sclerenchymatous tissue.
Sclerenchyma cells are of two types
u) Fibres: These consist of very long, narrow, thick and lignified cells. Fibres are
usually pointed at both ends and are clustered into strands.
u) Sclereids. These are also called grit cells or stone cells and are irregular-shaped.
They are also dead and develop into variousparts of the plants such as cortex, pith.
phloem, hard seeds, ete. Sclereids are broad and highly thick-walled selerenchyma
ells whch occur singly or in small groups

-Sinple
pil pair
-Narrow lumen
Lignitied
thhck wall

a) 6
Selerenchyma (a) Transverse section, (b) Longitudinal section
18. Functions of Sclerenchyma:
Sclerenchyma is the chief mechanical tissue of plants which provides strength and
enables them to bear various stresses.
(ü) It forms a protective covering around seeds and nuts.
(i) It gives rigidity, flexibility and elasticity to the plant body.
19. Differencesamongst:
Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma
) Living cells and () Living cells, cells with (i) Dead cells, long and
isodiametric in shape. thick corners. narrow with tapered ends.
(u) Cell walls are thinand| (ii) Cellwalls are thickened at (ii) Cell walls are thick due to
made up of cellulose. corners with extra heavy deposition oflignin.
depositon of cellulose and
pectin.
( ) Cells have distinct nucleus (ii) Cells have distinct nucleus (ii) Cells do not have nucleus
and a large central vacuole. and dense cytoplasm. and cytoplasm.
(iv) It stores food, waste (iv) Itgives mechanical support (iv) It gives rigidity and
products and forms and carry out photo- mechanical to
strength the|
packing tissue. synthesis. plant.
(U) It is present in all soft| (u) It is present below the (u) It is present in xylem and
epidermis in stems and phloem, in shells of nuts,|
parts of plant, i.e., in stems
leaves. in hard seeds, pulp of pear,
roots, leaves, flowers and
fruits. etc.
27. Complex Permanent Tissue: Complex tissues are made of more than one type of cells.
All these cells co-ordinate to perform a common function.
Xylem and Phloem are examples of such complex tissues. They are conducting tissues
and constitute a vascular bundle.
Complex tissues transport water, mineral salts and food materials to various parts of plant
body.
28. Xylem: Xylem is also called wood. It is a vascular and mechanical tissue, i.e., it is a
conducting tissue. It is composed of four difforont types of cells-tracheids, vessels, xylem
parenchyma and xylem fibres.
)Tracheids: They are long, tubular dead cells with lignified walls and tapering ends.
ü) Vessels: They are very long tube-like
structures formed by a row of cells
placed end to end. The walls are
lignified. They generally possess pits. -Nucleus
Tracheids and vessels transport
Pit
water and minerals vertically.
(üi) Xylem parenchyma : It consists of Pits
living cells having thin cell walls. It
stores food and helps in the sideways Cytoplasm
conduction of water.
(iv) Xylem fibres : They have elongated
dead cells with tapering ends and thick (b) (c)
(a)
cell walls. They are mainly supportive
Xylem (a) Tracheid, (6) Vessel,
in function.
(c) Xylem parenchyma
29. Functions ofXylem:
(0) Xylem conducts water and mineral salts upwards from roots to leaves and to different
parts of the plant.
(i) The components of xylem like tracheids, vessels and xylem fibres have thick lignified
walls and so they give mechanical strength to the plant body.
(üi) Xylem parenchyma is the only living tissue of xylem which helps in lateral conduction
of water and storage of metabolic wastes.
elements
30. Phloem: It is also called bast and is a living conducting tissue, composed of four
sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma and phloem fibres.
walls
0) Sieve Tubes: They are tubular cells with end
called sieve
perforated by n u m e r o u s pores which are Sieve plate
nucleus but have
plates. The sieve tubes do not have a
a thin layer of cytoplasm. Sieve tube
cells
(i) Companion Cells:These are small elongated
nucleus. Phioem
having dense cytoplasm and prominent parenchyma
Cii) Phloem Parenchyma:These are thin-walled living
concerned
parenchymatous cells which are mainly -Companion cell
with storage and transportation of food.
(iu) Phloem Fibres: These are thick-walled, elongated
provide mechanical wWN)
dead sclerenchymatous cells which
Section of phloem
strength to the tissue.
31. Functions of Phloem later from storage
to the storage organs and
) Phloem transports food from leaves
organs to growing regions of the plant body.
commercial fibres, e.g., jute, hemp,
(u) Phloem fibres of some plants are a source of
etc.
2. Differences between:
Xylem
) Only one type of cells that is xylem
parenchyma are living cells.
(ü) It conducts water and minerals from
roots to aerial parts of the plants.
(üi) Xylem lies deeper in plant organs.
(w) The main conducting cells-the
vessels are dead cells.
(u) It provides mechanical strength
the plant.
3. Differences between:
Tracheids
() They are unicellular.
(ü) The ends are tapering or oblique.
(i) They are small-sized.
(iu) More lignified, so have narrow lumen.
(u) Found in pteridophytes (ferns),
gymnosperms and a few angiosperms.
Phloem
) Ithas three types of living cells-sieve
tubes, companion cells and phloem
parenchyma.
() It translocates prepared food from
leaves to storage organs and growing
parts of body.
(ii) It is situated towards outer side.
(iv) The main conducting cells-the sieve
tubes are living cells
to (w) It does not provide mechanical|
strength to the plant.
Vessels
() They are multicellular.
(i) The ends are rounded or transverse.
il) They are large-sized.
(iv) Less lignified, so have wide lumen.
(w) Found only in angiosperms.