Ground Tissues

Parenchyma
Collenchyma &
Sclerenchyma

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Parenchyma
The main representative of ground tissue
system.
Found as
- a continuous tissue in plant organs
(cortex, pith of stems, cortex of roots,
ground tissue of petioles, mesophyll of
leaves)
- individual or group of cells in complex
tissue system ( xylem and phloem)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Function of parenchyma:
Parenchyma cells vary in function depending
on their location and participation in the
activities, but they are capable of changing
their activity.

Also parenchyma cells can resume

meristematic activity (wound healing,
regeneration, formation of adventitious
roots and shoots, isolated parenchyma are
capable of producing the entire plant)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Cell contents:
Depending on the activities of parenchyma
cells.
- Contains numerous chloroplasts
Chlorenchyma (mesophyll of leaves, some
types of stems in cortex, may occur in pith)
- Vacuolated cells and form lacunate tissue
- Secretory parenchyma rich in protoplasm
that is rich in ribosomes, Golgi bodies and
ER depending on type of secretion.
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 May contain special ergastic substances
- Starch storing cells with amyloplasts
(seeds, underground storage organs).
- Store protein or fat (parenchyma in seeds
or embryo).
- Contain chromoplasts (in flowers and
fruits)
- May accumulate anthocynanin or tannin in
vacuoles
- May contain different types of crystals.
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
mycozynook.com
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Shape and arrangement of cells:
-Typically
parenchyma cells are isodiametric not spherical,
with many faces (approximately 14 facets: polyhedron)
- May be elongated or lobed

- Cells vary in size

- Presence of intercellular spaces:

- storage parenchyma in stems and roots
has abundant intercellular spaces
- storage parenchyma in endosperm of
seeds are compact, if present with small
intercellular spaces
- parenchyma in mesophyll has extensive
intercellular spaces for gas exchange
(aerenchyma) also
in plants waterlogged soils
Plant Anatomy 254,or
lec 4aquatic habitat.
Rajaa Abueideh
 Folded parenchyma

chemical-ecology.net

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4 apsnet.org

Rajaa Abueideh
biologie.uni-hamburg.de

Parenchyma with intercellular space

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
aerenchyma

biologie.uni-hamburg.de

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Cell wall in parenchyma cells:
Mostly with primary thin cell wall

middle lamella may or may not be distinguishable.

Plasmodesmata are common.

Sometimes the primary wall becomes very thick as in

- some storage parenchyma as those in
endosperm of seeds. (coffee and persimmon) the
carbohydrates of these thick walls serve as reserve
material utilized by the embryo during germination
- some parenchyma (transfer cells) that function
in short-distance transport of solutes between cells

Some parenchyma cells develop secondary walls

(lignified) making it difficult to distinguish it from
sclerenchyma (sclerified parenchyma)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
- parenchyma inRajaa
pithAbueideh
and in xylem
Parenchyma with thick primary
cell wall in endosperm of
persimmon

mortada8.wordpress.com

Parenchyma with
primary cell wall
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
biologie.uni-hamburg.de
Rajaa Abueideh
 Sclerified
parenchyma

members.multimania.co.uk Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Collenchyma
Thick primary walled cells

For support with flexibility (strong flexible cells)

Closely related to parenchyma; with living

protoplasts capable of resuming meristematic
activity with primary nonlignified cell wall.

When collenchyma cells are induced to resume

meristematic activity (cork cambium) it retains
active protoplast and removes the wall
thickenings.

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
mycozynook.com
Rajaa Abueideh
 Cell wall in collenchyma cells:
Thick primary cell wall with uneven thickening:
- thickness in corners of the cells (angular
collenchyma)
- angular collenchyma with intercellular
space (lacunar collenchyma)- intercellular
space may or may not present.
- thickness on two opposite (inner and
outer tangential walls) (lamellar or plate
collenchyma)

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Angular collenchyma

biology.about.com Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Lacunar
collenchyma

kbg.fpv.ukf.sk Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Lamellar or plate
collenchyma

proprofs.com
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 In addition to cellulose the cell wall
contains large amount of pectin
(hydrophilic bounded to water) and
hemicellulose but with no lignin.

The thickening of cell wall is deposited

while the cell is growing and the process is
complicated.

Primary pits are often present especially in

cells with uniform thickness.

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Distribution of collenchyma in the plant:
Occurs in the peripheral regions of stem and leaf.
Directly beneath epidermis or a few layers removed
from it.

Frequently forms a continuous layer around

circumference of axis (stem and leaf petiole). May
occurs in strands

In leaf blade occurs in ribs especially the larger

one. Occurs on both sides or one side of ribs

Roots rarely have collenchyma.

Differs from thick walled parenchyma associated
with vascular tissue which has uniformly thickened
walls (collenchymatous parenchyma)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 The structure of collenchyma in relation to
function:
Function of collenchyma is support of growing
leaves and stems.

their walls becomes thick during development

The thickening is plastic and capable of

extension so does not hinder the elongation of
stem and leaf.

Found in developing plant parts subjected to

mechanical stress (wind)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 In old plant parts collenchyma may
harden or may be change to
sclerenchyma by deposition of
secondary lignified wall

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Sclerenchyma
with secondary lignified cell wall.

Function in mechanical support.

May be confused with sclerified

parenchyma or water conducting cells of
xylem.

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Can be divided into two categories:
- Sclereids: isodiametric to elongated
- Fibers: long slender cells, longer than
wider

May or may not retain their protoplast at maturity

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4mycozynook.com
Rajaa Abueideh
tutorvista.com

Sclereids

Fibers

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh biologyjunction.com
 Sclereids
Vary in shape.
Their secondary lignified cell wall commonly have simple
pits
Are of several types:
1- Brachysclereids (stone cells): isodiametric elongated
2- Macrosclereids (rod cells): columnar
3- Osteosclereids (bone cells): columnar with enlarged
ends
4- Astrosclereids (star cells): with lobes or arms coming
from central body
5-Trichosclereids (hairlike cells): branched

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
www2.volstate.edu

truthaboutpetfood.com

Brachysclereids (stone cells)

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
bio.txstate.edu
pharamcytimes.wordpress.com

Astrosclerieds
(star cells)
biologyjunction.com Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
Osteosclereids
(Bone cells)

Macrosclereids
(rod cells)

biologie.uni-hamburg.de
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Trichosclereids Macrosclereids
(hairlike cells) (rod cells)

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4uri.edu

botany.hawaii.edu Rajaa Abueideh
 Distribution of sclereids:
In stems -as continuous layer on the
periphery of the vascular region
- as groups of sclereids in pith
(brachysclereids)
- astrosclereids in cortex
In leaves in mesophyll (diffuse),
associated with ends of small veins
(terminal)
- sometimes form part of
epidermis
(macrosclereids, trichosclereids,
astrosclereids)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 In fruits in flesh of fruit
(brachysclereids)
- in endocarp
(macrosclereids)
In seeds in seed coat epidermis or
the layer (s) beneath epidermis
(macroslereids, osteosclereids)

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Fibers
Fibers are long cells.

With secondary thick walls, that varies in the

degree of lignification The wall is hard and not
hydrated as the wall in collenchyma

Function in support in plant parts that do not

elongate

Usually occur in strands.

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Fibers found in various parts of plants,
could be of two types depending on site
where they are found:
- extraxylary fibers: fibers located
outside xylem tissue
- phloem fibers (primary phloem
fibers , secondary phloem fibers)
- perivascular bundle fibers
(sheath, cap: on side or two sides )

- xylary fibers: fibers located in xylem

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh
 Perivascular
bundle sheath
Perivascular
bundle cap

biosmp.blogspot.com Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh hcs.osu.edu
Primary
Phloem
fibers

biologie.uni-hamburg.de

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Secondary
phloem
fibers

sbs.utexas.edu

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Xylary
fibers

uri.edu

Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4

Rajaa Abueideh
 Economic Fibers:
Mostly are phloem fibers
Could be classified as soft fibers and
flexible because of amount of lignin (flax:
used in textiles (linen)), some phloem
fibers used for paper making.
Leaf fibers of monocots obtained from
leaves (hard fibers : strongly lignified
walls) (Senseviria)
Leaf fibers of monocots (with xylem) serve
as raw material for making paper (corn ,
sugar cane)
Plant Anatomy 254, lec 4
Rajaa Abueideh