sclerenchyma

From sclero- +‎ -enchyma.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sklɪəɹˈɛŋkɪmə/
• (General American, weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /skləɹˈɛŋkəmə/

sclerenchyma (countable and uncountable, plural sclerenchymas or sclerenchymata)

1. (botany) A mechanical ground tissue, impermeable to water, which consists of cells having narrow lumen and thick, mineralized walls of lignin; present in stems, vascular bundles (of monocots), seed coverings, and vein and tips of leaves.
2. (zoology) The hard calcareous deposit in the tissues of the stony corals (Anthozoa).

• chlorenchyma
• sclereids
• collenchyma
• merenchyma
• parenchyma

• sclerenchymatous