Tissues


   
 
Permanent Tissues
Permanent tissues are derived from meristematic tissues. They have lost the power of dividing, having attained their definite form and size. In their earlier stages the cells are more or less similar in structure but slowly they become specialized and form permanent tissues. They can be classified into simple and complex tissues.
 
 
Simple Tissues
A simple tissue is made up of one type of cells forming a uniform mass.
 
There are three types of simple tissues:
 
Parenchyma
 
Collenchyma
 
Sclerenchyma
 
Parenchyma
 
Nature
 
Cells are isodiametric i.e. equally expanded on all sides
 
They may be oval, round, polygonal or elongated
 
Nucleus is present and hence living
 
The cell walls are thin and made of cellulose
 
Cytoplasm is dense with a single large vacuole
 
Intercellular spaces may be present
 
May contain chlorophyll. Parenchyma which contain chlorophyll are called chlorenchyma.
 
Occurrence
 
Found in the cortex of root, ground tissue in stems and mesophyll of leaves.
 
Function
 
Store and assimilate food
 
Give mechanical strength by maintaining turgidity
 
Prepare food if chlorophyll is present
 
Store waste products like tanin, gum, crystals and resins
 
Collenchyma
 
Nature
 
The cells are elongated and are circular, oval or polygonal in cross-section
 
Cell wall is unevenly thickened with cellulose at the corners against the intercellular spaces
 
Nucleus is present and hence the tissue is living
 
Vacuoles are small
 
Intercellular spaces are generally absent
 
If they contain chlorophyll they are known as chlorenchyma
 
Occurrence
 
Found under the skin i.e. below the epidermis in dicot stems.
 
Function
 
Provide mechanical support to the stem
 
Being extensible, these cells readily adapt themselves to the rapid elongation of the stem
 
Sclerenchyma
 
 
Nature
 
The cells are long, narrow, thick and lignified, usually pointed at both ends
 
The cell wall is evenly thickened with lignin and sometimes is so thick that the cell cavity or lumen is absent
 
Nucleus is absent and hence the tissue is made up of dead cells
 
They have simple, often oblique pits in the walls
 
The middle lamella i.e. the wall between adjacent cells is conspicuous
 
Occurrence
 
Found abundantly in stems of plants like hemp, jute and coconut, their length varying from 1 mm to 550 mm.
 
Function
 
Gives mechanical support to the plant by giving rigidity, flexibility and elasticity to the plant body.
 
Sclereids
 
These are special sclerenchymatous cells found in the cortex, pith, phloem, hard seeds, nuts and stony fruits. The flesh of pear and guava are sometimes gritty due to the presence of sclereids. These cells are thick walled, hard and strongly lignified. They are isodiametric, polyhedral, slightly elongated or irregular in shape.
 
Their function is to give firmness and hardness to the part concerned.
 
 
 
     
   
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