Question

Why is Sclerenchyma a dead tissue?

Answer 1

Sclerenchyma is the ground or fundamental tissue of the plants. The other tissues are collenchyma and parenchyma. Collenchyma is the thin-walled tissue. Parenchyma is the living support tissue with irregular shape. Sclerenchyma tissue has different sizes and types. The important structure is fibres and sclereids. Plant tissue has three types: dermal, vascular and ground. Ground tissue fills the soft part of the plants like cortex, pith, and pericycle.

Complete answer:
Sclerenchyma cells are mostly found in the cortex of stem and leaf. The main function of sclerenchyma is support. The mature cells in this tissue are commonly dead and have thick walls. This wall is called the lignin. It varies in size, shape and structure. So, the sclerenchyma is called the dead tissue. Because it has thick secondary walls. So, it doesn’t elongate during the growth of cells. So mature cells are destroyed inside of the sclerenchyma tissues. Example: coconut. In sclerenchyma sclereids and fibres are there. Sclereids are five types. Fibres are xylary and extra xylary. Each has three types.

Additional information:
Sclerenchyma has two classifications called fibres and sclereids. Fibres are the elongated cells having long and tapering ends. It provides mechanical support to the plant. They are mostly in the bundle of the plant and also found in all the parts in plants. They are a good material in raw industry and goods. Sclereids are combined with the vascular cells called xylem and phloem. It also provides mechanical support to the plants. It contains narrow lumen. It is also called the stone cell example guava. It is classified as osteo, astro, brachy, tricho, filiform sclereids.

Note:
It is the most commercially important one. It gives the structure to the plants. Economically it is the source material for the fabrics. Example flax, jute and hemp. Sclerenchyma has hard and rigid walls. It is also the permanent tissue in plants. It has a long and narrow dead cell arrangement. Deposition of the lignin is the reason for the hardness and thickness of the walls. Sclerenchyma fibres are economically rich. It protects the plants.