Grundvävnadens

Grundvävnadens refers to the ground tissue system in plants. This system is one of the three principal tissue systems found in vascular plants, alongside the dermal tissue system and the vascular tissue system. The ground tissue system makes up the bulk of the plant body and is responsible for photosynthesis, storage, and structural support. It is composed of three types of simple tissues: parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma.

Parenchyma cells are the most common type of ground tissue cells. They are typically thin-walled and living at maturity, and their primary functions include photosynthesis, storage of food reserves (such as starch), and secretion. Collenchyma cells provide mechanical support to growing stems and leaves, offering flexibility. They have unevenly thickened primary cell walls and are usually found in strands or cylinders below the epidermis. Sclerenchyma cells, on the other hand, provide strong structural support and protection. They have thick, lignified secondary cell walls and are often dead at maturity. Sclerenchyma includes fibers and sclereids.

The ground tissue system is continuous throughout the plant body, filling the spaces between the dermal and vascular tissues. In roots, it often forms the cortex and pith, serving as storage areas. In stems, it also constitutes the cortex and pith, contributing to support and sometimes photosynthesis if the stem is green. In leaves, ground tissue comprises the mesophyll, which is the primary site of photosynthesis. The arrangement and specific functions of these ground tissue types can vary depending on the plant species and the specific organ.