Support that bends
Collenchyma: thick corners, flexible stems.
A flower stem in the wind
A thin flower stem sways in the wind and bends almost flat. When the wind stops it is still unbroken.
What would a stem need to bend without breaking?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Collenchyma consists of living cells with corners unevenly thickened by pectin; it gives support with flexibility, letting parts such as stems and tendrils bend without breaking.
A flower stem in the wind
A thin flower stem sways in the wind and bends almost flat. When the wind stops it is still unbroken.
What would a stem need to bend without breaking?
- Support that is also flexible
- Hard rigid walls everywhere
- No support at all
Bend the stem
Bend the stem as far as you can. Then switch on the collenchyma to see what is inside.
Collenchyma
Collenchyma is a simple permanent tissue of living cells whose corners are unevenly thickened because of pectin, a chemical that gives flexibility like rubber. It provides support and flexibility, so parts like stems and tendrils can bend without breaking.
Notes
Collenchyma: living cells with corners thickened by pectin. It gives support with flexibility, so stems and tendrils bend without breaking.
Check yourself
The corners of collenchyma cells are thickened with…
What does collenchyma give a plant?
A tendril bends easily and does not break. Which tissue helps most?
- lignin. Lignin thickens sclerenchyma walls.
- pectin — correct. Yes. Pectin is flexible like rubber.
- cutin. Cutin forms the waxy cuticle.
- Support and flexibility — correct. Yes.
- Only hardness and strength. That describes sclerenchyma.
- A way to carry food. That is done by phloem.
- Sclerenchyma. Sclerenchyma is hard and strong, not flexible.
- Collenchyma — correct. Yes.
- Meristematic tissue. That makes new cells.