Write a short note on sclerenchyma.

Sclerenchyma is a supporting tissue. It is the tissue which make plant hard and stiff.

Location: This tissue is present in stems, around vascular bundles, in the veins of leaves and in the hard covering of seeds and nuts.

Structure: The cells of this tissue are dead. They are long, elongated, narrow, thick walled and lignified. These consists of fibres and sclereids.

The sclerenchyma fibers are of great economical importance since they constitute the source material for many fabrics, hemp, flex, jute.