What does sclereid mean?
A sclereid is a specialized supporting cell found in the sclerenchyma of plants. These cells characteristically have thick, lignified secondary walls and are usually shorter and more irregularly shaped than the elongated cells known as fibers. Many sclereids are dead at maturity and resemble small stones, which explains the common name "stone cell." They occur in tissues that require hardness or protection, including the flesh of pears, nut shells, and seed coats. In a pear, dense clusters of sclereids create the characteristic gritty texture felt when the fruit is eaten. The term is chiefly used in botanical and food-science contexts and is more precise than simply describing such cells as hard or woody. It should also be distinguished from sclerenchyma, which names the broader tissue or system of supporting cells rather than an individual cell type.
nounA sclerenchyma cell with thick, usually lignified walls that is typically shorter and more irregular in shape than a fiber. Sclereids commonly occur in hard plant tissues such as pear flesh, nut shells, and seed coats.
- A short, thick-walled, usually lignified sclerenchyma cell that commonly has an irregular or stone-like form.
"The gritty texture of a ripe pear comes largely from its numerous sclereids."
"Each sclereid has a rigid, lignified wall that helps explain the firmness of the surrounding tissue."
"Microscopic examination revealed many sclereids in the seed coat of the fruit."
The standard plural is used when referring to individual stone cells collectively or to multiple cells within plant tissue.
"Numerous sclereids form the hard shell of the almond."
The stone-like cells that make a ripe pear gritty have a name: sclereids.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sclereid come from?
Sclereid was formed from Greek sklēros, meaning "hard," together with a scientific ending associated with form or resemblance. The name reflects the cell's hard, thick-walled structure. Related English words including sclerosis, sclerotic, sclerenchyma, and sclerite also derive from the same Greek root for hardness.
Related word forms
How sclereid is actually used
This is a specialized botanical term, encountered mainly in plant anatomy, botany, and food science. It normally functions as a countable noun and is most often used in the plural.
Easily confused with sclereid
A sclereid is an individual specialized cell, whereas sclerenchyma is the broader tissue or cell system composed of thick-walled supporting cells.