Question
Biology Question on Anatomy of Flowering Plants
Which of the following statements regarding sclerenchyma is not correct?
Sclerenchyma fibres associated with xylem tissue are called wood fibres.
Sclerenchyma fibres associated with phloem tissues are called bast fibres
Endocarp of coconut is rich in sclerenchyma fibres
Brachysclereids are isodiametric and polygonal.
Endocarp of coconut is rich in sclerenchyma fibres
Solution
Sclereids not sdlerenchyma fibres form stony endocarp of many fruits called stone fruits, e.g., almond, coconut. Sclereids. may occur singly or in groups. They provide stiffness to the part in which they occur. The important types of sclereids are stone cells or brachysclereids, macrosclereids, osteosclereids, astrosclereids, filiform selereids and trichosclereids. Brachysclereids are unbranched, short and isodiametric with rarniform (branched) pits and are responsible for grittiness of guava) sapota, apple and pea. Macrosclereids are present in seed coat of pulses (legume). They are slightly elongated and columnar or rod shaped cells and form palisade like layer in seed coat.