AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Flax. Flax bast fiber cells are an ideal example of sclerenchyma fibers, with extraordinary cell wall thickness and length. Their major function is to provide strength to the long (1 m) and thin (2 mm) flax stem.

Detailed explanation-2: -The husk of coconut is made of sclerenchymatous tissue. It has thick-walled, usually lignified cells which form the outer protective covering of fruits and nuts. It is also known as supportive tissues of the plant as it provides mechanical stiffness and strength.

Detailed explanation-3: -Therefore from the given set of options, the correct statement is B, that is sclerenchyma cells are usually dead and without protoplasm. Note: The collenchyma tissue consists of elongated cells that are thick-walled and they provide support to the plant body.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sclerenchyma is one of the three types of ground, or fundamental, tissue in plants; the other two types are parenchyma (living thin-walled tissue) and collenchyma (living support tissue with irregular walls). Sclerenchyma cells occur in many different shapes and sizes, but two main types occur: fibres and sclereids.