Permanent tissues and their types - class-XI

Sclerenchyma cells are characterized by relatively thick, lignified secondary cell walls. The lignified wall gives sclerenchyma cells their rigidity, and they function primarily in mechanical support and water conduction. They also make up most rigid parts of the plant (e.g., seed coats and some fruit walls) and are often positioned so that they provide mechanical protection for softer plant parts. 

Sclerenchyma is the supporting tissue in plants. Two types of sclerenchyma cells exist: fibers and sclereids. Their cell walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Sclerenchyma cells are the principal supporting cells in plant tissues that have ceased elongation where as Stomata are cell structures in the epidermis of tree leaves and needles that are involved in the exchange of carbon dioxide and water between plants and the atmosphere.

Plasmodesmata are narrow channels that act as intercellular cytoplasmic bridges to facilitate communication and transport of materials between plant cells and are not found in Sclerenchyma cells. Sclerenchyma fibres are long and narrow and have thick lignified cell walls. They provide mechanical strength to the plant and allow for the conduction of water. Sclereids are specialised sclerenchyma cells with thickened, highly lignified walls with pits running through the walls.

Sclerenchyma cells have thickened lignified walls, which make them strong and waterproof. The wall of the trachea is considerably thickened and lignified.  The characteristic thickening pattern, the thickness and the lignin content of the cell wall provide the vessel rigidity and make it resistant against the collapsing effect of the intense transpiration of the leaves.

The spherical, oval or cylindrical cells with very narrow lumen; in sclerenchyma are called sclereids. Sclereids are usually found in the fruit walls of nuts, pulp of fruits like guava, pear and sapota; seed coats of legumes and leaves of tea. The gritty texture of pear or guava is because of sclereids.

Sclerenchyma tissue is composed of sclerenchyma cells, which are usually dead at maturity (i.e., have lost their protoplasts). They characteristically contain very thick, hard secondary walls lined with lignin; consequently, sclerenchyma provides additional support and strength to the plant body.

Septate sclereids (or sclereids in general) are often found in the phloem of certain plants like Pereskia, providing structural support.

Sclerenchyma is the simple permanent tissue present in plants that performs the function of protection and support. Two types of sclerenchyma cells exist, fibers and sclereids. Fibres are long, narrow-lumen, thick-walled and dead cells that provide support to the internal structure of plants. Sclereids are polygonal cells that are found in fruit pulp. Parenchyma has think walled, polygonal and live cells while collenchyma has angular thickened polygonal cells.

The exocarp is the thin outermost layer (or skin) of the fruit. The mesocarp is a thick husk composed of coarse brown fibers (coir). The endocarp is the hard, but relatively thin woody inner layer of a fruit that contains the endosperm. The endosperm is partly liquid (“coconut water”) and partly solid (fibrous white coconut “flesh” or “meat”, which adheres to the inner wall of the endocarp).

There are four types of tissues present in the plants, namely vascular tissue, epidermal tissue, ground tissue and meristematic tissue. Ground tissue consists of parenchyma tissue, collenchyma tissue and sclerenchyma tissue. Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and remain alive after they become mature. Collenchyma cells have thin primary walls with secondary thickening in some areas. They provide mechanical and structural support.

Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. The presence of numerous sclereids form the cores of apples and produce the gritty texture of guavas and pears.

Sclerenchyma, in plants, support tissue composed of any of various kinds of hard woody cells. Mature sclerenchyma cells are usually dead cells that have heavily thickened secondary walls containing lignin. 

1. A tissue whose cells have very thick cell wall are sclerenchyma. 
2. The cells wall is rigid and lignified.
   

Since plants do not have bones for structure and support they must have cell walls around all of their cells. This leads to the need for very unique cells in plants. Sclerenchyma cells are specialized plant cells that exist to provide strength and support. They are present in all kinds of plants including grasses, trees, and flowering plants.

Protoxylem and protophloem that develop in the primary stage of plants need living cells to divide and form more tissues to grow and as sclerenchymatous cells are dead and not divide so they lack sclerenchyma cells.

• Permanent tissues may be defined as a group of living or dead cells formed by meristematic tissue and have lost their ability to divide and have permanently placed at fixed positions in the plant body. Meristematic tissues that take up a specific role lose the ability to divide. This process of taking up a permanent shape, size and a function is called cellular differentiation. Cells of meristematic tissue differentiate to form different types of permanent tissues.
  

Pits are thin portions of the cell wall. Through pits, the communication and exchange of fluid takes place between cells.  There is no deposition of lignin in this area. They are found in the walls of dead tissues with lignified cell walls like sclerenchyma and tracheids and vessels of xylem.

A. Cortical fibres are the extraxylary fibres present in cortex.

B. Sclereides are excessively thick walled short sclerenchyma cells.

C. Xylary fibres are the sclerenchyma fibres present in the xylem.

D. Phloem fibres are the sclerenchyma fibres present in the phloem.

So the correct answer is ‘sclereids’.

Sclerenchyma tissue possesses long, narrow cells with thickened walls. They possess secondary walls made of lignin. Lignin is a chemical substance, which acts as cement and hardens them. Therefore, option B is correct. 

• Simple permanent tissues are a group of cells with the same origin, structure and function are called simple permanent tissues.
•  Parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma are simple tissue which coordinates to perform a similar function.

Collenchyma, is the simple permanent mechanical tissue, formed of living cells. 

Sclerenchyma, is the simple permanent mechanical tissue, formed of dead cells.

Aerenchyma, is a type of parenchyma, simple permanent tissue, formed of living cells.

Xylem is a simple complex permanent tissue formed of the majority of dead cells. 

So, the correct answer is ‘Sclerenchyma’.

Sclerenchyma cells possess pits and plasmodesmata where cell walls are not lignified or thickened. Plasmodesmata aid in cytoplasmic connections in adjacent cells through which transportation of substances occur. Therefore, option D is correct.

The plant tissues commonly found in fruit walls of nuts and pulp of some fruits like guava are termed as sclereids. Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. The presence of numerous sclereids form the cores of apples and produce the gritty texture of pears. Although, sclereids are variable in shape, the cells are generally isodiametric, prosenchymatic, forked or elaborately branched. They can be grouped into bundles, can form complete tubes located at the periphery or can occur as single cells or small groups of cells within parenchyma tissues.
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

• Sclerenchyma makes plant hard and stiff. The cells of the tissue are dead. They are long and narrow. For example, coconut. The cells of this tissue are dead and its wall is thickened with a chemical substance Lignin. (Lignin is a chemical substance which acts as cement). 
• Sclerenchyma is present in the stems, around the vascular bundle in the veins of the leaves and the hard covering of seeds and nuts. It provides strength to the plant parts.

Lignin is a component of the secondary cell walls of sclerenchyma. Two types of sclerenchyma cells exists- fibres and sclereids. Their walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Sclerenchyma cells are the principal supporting cells in plant tissues that have ceased elongation.

Fibres and sclereids are two types of sclerenchyma cells. The fibres are generally long, slender cells occurring in bundles. Their walls are thickened by lignin and the principal cell wall material is cellulose. Sclereids are the reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with thickened, lignified walls. So, the correct option is 'lignin, lignin'.

Cork (phellem) is not considered as living tissue. It is a water-resistant, protective tissue that displaces the stem epidermis during the secondary growth phase. A mature cork cell is non-living and has cell walls that are composed of a waxy substance that is highly impermeable to gasses and water called as suberin. Generally, the phloem together with the cork cells is considered to comprise the outer bark. The epidermis cell is a single-layered group of cells that covers plants leaves, flowers, roots, and stems. It forms a boundary between the plant and the external environment. The epidermis serves several functions, it protects against water loss, regulates gas exchange, secretes metabolic compounds and absorbs water and mineral nutrients. Cortex and pericycle are not the protective tissues. 
Thus, the correct answer is option D.

The ground tissue of plants is the supporting tissue which helps the specialized one to carry their function efficiently. The ground tissue includes parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and collenchyma.
Collenchyma cells have thin primary walls with some areas of secondary thickening. Collenchyma provides extra structural support, particularly in regions of new growth.
Sclerenchyma cells have thick lignified secondary walls and often die when mature. Sclerenchyma provides the main structural support to a plant. Ground tissue is a simple tissue. Xylem and phloem come under vascular bundles.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.

The bundle sheath of monocot leaf is made of parenchyma but just above and below the vascular bundles are found sclerenchymatous cells up to epidermis. The bundle sheath of dicot leaf made of parenchyma. Just above and below the vascular bundle, some parenchymatous cells or collenchymatous cells are present up to epidermis. Grass belongs to monocot so, contains sclerenchymatous bundle sheath. Sunflower, banyan and mango are dicot so, contains parenchymatous or collenchymatous bundle sheath. 
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Companion cells are specialised type of parenchyma cells. The metabolic functioning of sieve-tube members depends on a close association with the companion cells, a specialized form of parenchyma cell. All of the cellular functions of a sieve-tube element are carried out by the (much smaller) companion cell, a typical nucleate plant cell except the companion cell usually has a larger number of ribosomes and mitochondria. The cytoplasm of a companion cell is connected to the sieve-tube element by plasmodesmata.

Tyloses are generally the outgrowth protruding from the parenchyma cells of xylem vessels. It generally protects the vascular tissue during stress like drought or infection. During unfavourable conditions, it falls from the sides of the cells and dam up the vascular tissue to prevent further damage to the plant. It can be traced in the secondary xylem. It aids in the process of making sapwood into heartwood in some hardwood trees, especially in trees with larger vessels. These blockages can be used in addition to gum plugs as soon as vessels become filled with air bubbles, and they help to form a stronger heartwood by slowing the progress of rot.
Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Tissue which develops more due to the scarcity of water is sclerenchyma. Sclerenchyma is the supporting tissue in plants. Two types of sclerenchyma cells exist: fibres and sclereids. Their walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Sclerenchyma cells are the principal supporting cells in plant tissues that have ceased elongation. Sclerenchyma is composed of dead cells with extremely thick cell walls -secondary walls that make up to 90% of the whole cell volume.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Sclerenchyma is a simple permanent tissue which is mainly composed of dead cells. The walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. These are the principal supporting cells in plant tissues that have ceased elongation. 

Sclerenchyma is a simple permanent tissue which is mainly composed of dead cells. The walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. These are the principal supporting cells in plant tissues that have ceased elongation. 
Sclerenchyma fibres are of great economical importance, since they constitute the source material for many fabrics (flax, hemp, jute, ramie).

The protoderm mainly differentiates to form the dermal layer which is known as epidermis, hypodermis, and endodermis. Hypodermis (exodermis) is the outermost layer of cells in the plant cortex. These cells are modified to give additional structural support or to store food materials or water. After the loss of the piliferous layer of the root, the hypodermis takes over the protective functions of the epidermis.
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Senescence refers to the loss of functional capacity causing a cellular breakdown and metabolic failure. It is a characteristic feature of the period between reproductive maturity and death of a plant or plant part or cell, which ultimately causes cell death. 

Sclerenchyma cells have thick lignified secondary walls and often die when mature. It provides the main structural support to a plant. They are long and pointed cells. 

Parenchyma is a simple living tissue, which is composed of thin-walled polyhedral, isodiametric living cells with sufficient cytoplasm and one or more nuclei. 

Conduction of food from leaves to other parts of the plant is carried out by phloem cells. 
The synthesis of food is carried out by chlorenchyma cells. These are parenchyma cells with chlorophyll pigments. 

Sclerenchyma is the simple permanent tissue. It commonly forms the protective covering of the nuts and fruits but it also forms the ground tissue which supports different  specialized cells. Their walls consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. 

Parenchyma is thin walled, polyhedral, isodiametric, mostly non-lignified, soft living cells with sufficient cytoplasm and one or more nuclei. 

Sclerenchyma cell is a simple permanent tissue which is mainly composed of dead cells. It is the hard, thick walls that make sclerenchyma cells important strengthening and supporting elements in plant parts that have ceased elongation. Their cell walls contain, besides cellulose, a high proportion of lignin. It forms a protective coating on seeds and nuts. Since sclerenchyma cells are dead at maturity, it does not contain plastids. Parenchyma and collenchyma cells are living cells which have plastids.

Sclereids or stone cells are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells. It has highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. They are type of sclerenchyma cell that differs from the fibre cell by not being greatly elongated. Often occurs singly (an idioblast) or in small groups, giving rise to a gritty texture in, for instance, the pear fruit, where it is known as a stone cell. May also occur in layers, for example in hard seed coats. A type of cell with thick cell walls, consisting of lignin, that is commonly found on the outer 'skin' of fruits. So, sclereids or stone cells are modified sclerenchyma.

Sclerenchyma is composed of dead tissue which mainly acts as protective coating on fruits and nuts. The reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls are known as sclereids. It forms small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most of the plants. 

Senescence is also known as aging. It leads to metabolic degradation. It is the characteristic feature of the period between reproductive maturity and death of a plant or plant part or cell.

Parenchyma cells are thin-walled, flexible and loosely packed cells. They are alive at maturity. Their shape changes as per function. 
Collenchyma cells are living, elongated and irregularly thickened at corners with less intercellular space. 
Sclerenchyma is a type of permanent tissue. They are dead, elongated, thin, narrow cells with thickened walls without any internal space. Therefore, option C is correct.  

• Sclerenchyma cell is a simple permanent tissue which is mainly composed of dead cells. It provides strength and rigidity to the stem. 
• It forms the protective covering of nuts and fruits. Their cell walls contain, besides cellulose, a high proportion of lignin. 
• It forms a protective coating on seeds and nuts.

Collenchyma contains living, elongated cells with protoplasm at maturity. 
Parenchyma cells are thin-walled, flexible and loosely packed cells. They are alive at maturity. Their cells show protoplasm at maturity.
Sclerenchyma cells are dead, long, thin, narrow with thickened walls without any internal space. They do not possess any protoplasm at maturity. Hence, option A is correct. 

• Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified walls. These have the shape of a star. They are small bundles of sclerenchyma tissue in plants that form durable layers, such as the cores of apples and the gritty texture of pears (Pyrus communis). 
• Sclereids are variable in shape. The cells can be isodiametric, prosenchyma, forked or elaborately branched. 
• They can be grouped into bundles, can form complete tubes located at the periphery or can occur as single cells or small groups of cells within parenchyma tissues.
•  But compared with most fibers, sclereids are relatively short. Sclerenchyma, tracheids, and collenchyma do not cause the Grittiness of the fruit wall. 

1. Parenchyma forms the major component within organs and are closely packed or have intercellular space and are living with the ability of division. They perform functions of photosynthesis, storage, and secretion.
2. Sclerenchyma is long, narrow cells with thick and lignified cell walls having a few or numerous pits. These are commonly found in fruit wall of nuts, the husk of the coconut, seed coat of legumes, etc.
3. Collenchyma is found in the hypodermis in dicot plants and provide mechanical support to the plant.
4. Chlorenchyma is the modified parenchymatous tissue that helps in photosynthesis.

The shape of the sclerenchyma cells are elongated and cell walls are thickened by lignin. The plant gets very strong support and strength since these are heavily deposited with lignin. It is responsible for the stiffness of coconut fibres. 

Since dead cells can provide mechanical strength as easily as live ones and need less maintenance.

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma. The main function of sclerenchymatous tissues is to give support to the plant. It also provides hardness and protective covering to seed and nuts.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma. Sclerenchyma consist of lignin. Lignin deposition is so thick that the cell walls become strong, rigid and impermeable to water. 

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma. The thickening of cell wall is due to deposition of cellulose or lignin or both. Lignin deposited cells are said lignified. Sclerenchyma cells are dead at maturity because of the absence of protoplast. 

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma.

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma. The thickening of cell wall is due to deposition of cellulose or lignin or both. Lignin deposited cells are said lignified.

The chief mechanical tissue of the plant body composed of highly thick walled cell with little or no protoplasm is called as sclerenchyma. The thickening of cell wall is due to deposition of cellulose or lignin or both. Lignin deposited cells are said lignified. Sclerenchyma is the tissue which makes the plant hard and stiff.

• Osteosclereids are also known as bone cells. It is a type of sclereid that forms the hypodermal layer in seeds, fruits, and leaves of some plants (dicots).
• It was first seen in the seed coat of Pisum during the maturation. These are the columnar cells that are dilated at the ends.
  So, the correct option is B.

In stems and leaves of monocots, collenchyma is absent. Instead, sclerenchyma is present in monocots. Xylem parenchyma consists of living cells of parenchyma, which are thick and their secondary cell wall is lignified. Sieve tube member is associated with one or more specialized parenchyma cells called as companion cells. Phloem fibres are generally present in the secondary phloem.
Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma are called as simple tissues as they are made up of similar kind of cells. Vascular tissue is a complex tissue because it is heterogeneous in nature with different types of cells. The chief elements are xylem, phloem and pericycle.
Thus, the correct answer is option B.

• Sclerenchyma cells are dead cells at maturity and have a very thick cell wall due to the deposition of lignin. 
  
• They are either present in the form of fibres or sclereids (stone cells).
• They are located in the leaf veins, hard coverings of the seeds and vascular bundle. 
• Its main function include- 1) provide rigidity and mechanical support to the plant body, 2) It also makes the plant stiff and hard.
• So, the correct answer is 'Sclerenchyma'.

Fibres are usually long, spindle shaped structures, with tapering or blunt ends. Secondary thickening by lignin occur in 90% of the area of the cell. Fibres are grouped into xylary fibres and extraxylary fibres. Xylary fibres are also called wood fibres and are the longest among xylem elements. 
Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Sclerenchyma cells occur in many different shapes and sizes, but two main types occur: fibres and sclereids. Fibres are greatly elongated cells whose long, tapering ends interlock, thus providing maximum support to a plant. They often occur in bundles or strands and can be found almost anywhere in the plant body, including the stem, the roots, and the vascular bundles in leaves

• Sclereids or stone cells are a type of reduced sclerenchyma cells.
  
• These stone cells form hard structures such as seed coats and nut shells and provide support to the soft tissues.
• Their cell wall is highly thickened and lignified which form small bundles of durable layers of tissues.
• The presence of numerous stones cells that makes pear and guava have a gritty texture is brachysclereids (unbranched, short and isodiametric with pits).
• The stone cells in tea leaves that make it tougher are astrosclereids (branched as star-shape).

Parenchyma cells have thin cellulosic cell walls. Collenchyma cells have thicker cellulosic walls and also may have pectin deposition on corners. Sclerenchyma cells have thick lignified cell walls and are dead at maturity and provide protection to the different parts of the body. Epithelial cells are thin-walled and living.

Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. 

Vascular tissues concerned in the transportation of water, mineral and food.

Phloem is a vascular tissue or conducting tissue, meant for the translocation of organic solutes or food.

Collenchyma is a simple permanent living mechanical tissue, provides elasticity to the young stems.

Mechanical tissues are the rigid cellular tissues, provides elasticity, flexibility to the different parts of the plant body. These are called stereome. So, the correct answer is 'Mechanical tissue’.

Walls of sclerenchyma cells are lignified, which make them thick. Due to this, are no intercellular spaces between them. Hence, option B is correct.  

A. Sclerenchyma is known as the supporting tissue of the plants which make the plant hard and stiff as their cell wall is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

Parenchyma cells are thin-walled, flexible and loosely packed cells. They are often alive at maturity. Their shape changes as per function. They are filler tissue in soft parts of a plant. 
Collenchyma cells are thin-walled with some areas of secondary thickening. They provide extra structural support and flexibility to plant. Coconut husk is not made of collenchymatous cells. 
In many aquatic plants, parenchyma cells have large air cavities to give buoyancy to the plant and enable them to float in water. Such parenchyma cells are called as aerenchyma.
Sclerenchyma is dead, long, thin narrow cells. Walls of sclerenchyma cells are lignified, which make them thick. This tissue makes the plant hard and stiff. Coconut husk is very hard and is made of such thickened, lignified cells. Such cells make it very hard to pull out the coconut husk.

Answer B: Lignin

• Parenchyma cells are alive, thin-walled cells. They are present in soft parts of the plant. But pear fruit has hard parts inside, which give it a gritty texture. Therefore, option B is incorrect. 
• Collenchyma cells are thin-walled with some areas of secondary thickening. They provide extra structural support and flexibility to plant. Therefore, option C is incorrect.
• Aerenchyma cells are present in an aquatic plant. Such cells have large air cavities, which enable the plant to float in water. 
• Sclereid is a reduced form of sclerenchyma, which has thickened lignified walls. In pear fruit, sclereid cells are present in bundles, which give a gritty texture to the fruit. Such cells are also called "stone cells" because of their hardness.

the sclerenchyma tissue is present in stems, around vascular bundles, in the veins of leaves and in the hard covering of seeds and nuts. It is the tissue which makes the plant hard and stiff due to the presence of lignin in the cell wall. The cells of this tissue are dead. So, the correct answer is "sclerenchyma".

Sclereids are present in fruit walls of nuts, the grit of guava and pear, seed coats of legumes. So, the correct answer is (d).

Parenchyma tissue possess cells with a wide lumen. In aquatic plants, parenchyma cells possess large air cavities, which provide buoyancy to the plant. It enables the plant to float. Hence, option B is incorrect. 
Collenchyma tissue contains cell with wide lumen. Hence, option C is incorrect.  
Tracheids possess spacious lumen, which extends throughout the length. Hence, option D is incorrect. 
Sclerenchyma tissue possess long and narrow cells with narrow lumen. Hence, option A is correct.  

A. sclerenchyma fibers are long, narrow spindle-shaped sclerenchyma cells having tapering end walls.

B. phloem fibers are sclerenchyma fibers present in the phloem, also called bast fibers.

C. libriform fibers are the typical xylem fibers with thick walls and simple pits.

D. fiber tracheids are xylem fibers intermediate between tracheids and typical sclerenchyma fibers.

so the correct answer is ‘phloem fibers’.

Sclereids are a reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with highly thickened, lignified cellular walls that form small bundles of durable layers of tissue in most plants. Although sclereids are variable in shape, the cells are generally isodiametric, prosenchymatic, forked, or elaborately branched. They can be grouped into bundles, can form complete tubes located at the periphery, or can occur as single cells or small groups of cells within parenchyma tissues. An isolated sclereid cell is known as an idioblast. Sclereids are typically found in the epidermis, ground tissue, and vascular tissue. The presence of numerous sclereids form the cores of apples and produce the gritty texture of guavas. 

Sclerenchyma cells are characterized by relatively thick, lignified secondary cell walls. All plant cells initially have only a primary wall made predominantly of cellulose. As sclerenchyma develops, a secondary wall with a high proportion os lignin is deposited inside a primary wall.

Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of vascular plants and some algae. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity and do not rot easily. Chemically, lignins are cross-linked phenolic polymers. As a biopolymer, lignin is unusual because of its heterogeneity and lack of a defined primary structure. Its most commonly noted function is the support through strengthening of wood (mainly composed of xylem cells and lignified sclerenchyma fibres) in vascular plants.

Bast is the term used for the fibres of phloem. These fibres are tough and resistant with a narrow lumen and secondary walls deposited with lignin. These are dead elongated cells of sclerenchyma tissue. Examples include jute fibres. 

Pericycle is the outermost layer of the stele. Stele is composed of all tissues inside of the endodermis. Structure of pericycle differs in monocots and in dicots. In dicots, pericycle is in the form of isolated strips of sclerenchyma cells, which are lignified. Each patch is associated with phloem of vascular bundle. Such, pericycle is called as hard bast. 
Epiblema are special epidermal cells present in rootlets. They are specially adapted for absorbing liquids. Phellem is outermost layer of cork cambium which is suberised. 
Astrosclereids is a type of sclereid which is a large, radially branched structure. 
Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Hypodermis is present in both dicot and monocot stems. In case of dicots, the hypodermis is made up of collenchyma cells and those present in monocots is made up of sclerenchymatous cells.

Macrosclereids are elongated sclereids. Sclereids are the reduced form of sclerenchyma. It is usually found in the outer layer of seed coat of legumes. These cells are responsible for restricting water uptake by hard seeded legumes. 

The cortex of the root and shoot is formed from the periblem. The cortex is the outermost layer on the stem or roots of plants. Cork which is used commercially as bottle stoppers, bulletin boards, coasters, insulation, sealing for lids, flooring, gaskets for engines etc. is obtained from Quercus suber, commonly called as the cork oak, a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree. Since the vessel elements are absent in most gymnosperms, the tracheids form the main elements of xylem that help in transporting water and minerals.

Sclereids are reduced form of sclerenchyma cells with thick and lignified walls. Grittiness in pear is due to the presence of stone cells called as sclereids. The presence of numberous brachy sclereids makes the texture of pear gritty. The brachy sclereids are isodiametric in shape.

Stereome is a mechanical tissue which is formed due to polysaccharide deposition. This is seen in sclerenchyma, collenchyma and all non-living cells of vascular tissues. The deposition of polysaccharides thickens the cell walls in all the three tissue types. Collenchyma is formed due to the deposition of cellulose and is a living tissue. Sclerenchyma is formed due to the deposition of lignin and is a dead permanent tissue.

• Sclerenchyma cells are simple permanent tissue which is composed of dead cells and has secondary cell walls thickened with cellulose and usually impregnated with lignin. It serves two major functions protection and support.

Victoria regia belongs to the genus of water-lilies, from the family Nymphaeceae and inhabits in the still waters of all the rivers of the South American continent. These are characterized by the presence of  very large green leaves that are orbiculate, peltate, flat with their margin elevated all around and floating on water surface. The leaves borne on long foot stalks  are radiately and reticulately ribbed and the venation of lamina corrugated involute. A cross section reveals the presence of stellate sclerenchyma cells. The sclerenchyma cells with thick nonelastic walls provide the strength and support for these vast leaves

Hypodermis is a part of the outer protective layer in the plant. It is placed below the epidermis.
The hypodermis is especially well developed in plants of arid regions and in those with shallow root systems. It also deters the entrance of soil microorganisms. Monocot stem's hypodermis is a region that lies immediately below the epidermis. It is represented by a few layers of compactly arranged sclerenchyma cells. Maize is a monocot.
Thus, the correct answer is option C.