Which plant tissue provides rigid, strong support due to thick cell walls?

• A. Collenchyma
• B. Parenchyma
• C. Sclerenchyma
• D. Xylem

Answer: (C)

Rigid structural support in plant tissues comes from sclerenchyma. These cells develop thick, lignified secondary walls that are extremely rigid, and they are usually dead at maturity, so they act like sturdy fibers and stone cells that reinforce stems, seeds, and other structures. Collenchyma provides flexible support with unevenly thickened primary walls, parenchyma is involved in storage and metabolism with thin walls, and xylem, while also having thick walls, primarily conducts water and minerals. The defining feature here—thick, lignified walls that give real rigidity—points to sclerenchyma.