NTA Abhyas NEET2020BotanyAnatomy of Flowering PlantsPractice
What is not true about sclereids?
Options
- AThese are parenchyma cells with thickened lignified walls.
- BThese are elongated and flexible with tapered ends.
- CThese are commonly found in the shells of nuts and in the pulp of guava, pear, etc.
- DThese cells also provide support.
Correct answer
A. These are parenchyma cells with thickened lignified walls.
Step-by-step solution
The sclereids are spherical, oval or cylindrical, highly thickened dead sclerenchyma cells with very narrow cavities (lumen). These are commonly found in the fruit walls of nuts; pulp of fruits like guava, pear and sapota; seed coats of legumes and leaves of tea. Sclerenchyma provides mechanical support to organs. These may be of different types, such as brachysclereids (stone cells) found in grit of pear, apple, macrosclereids (columnar), eg, legume seeds, astrosclereids (star shaped), eg, tea leaves etc.