Parenchymal tissue is that plant tissue found in all existing plants in most of their organs, forming a continuous tone. These tissues are also known by the name of fundamental tissues, since they are not very specialized cells, they are distributed throughout the interior part of the plant's body fulfilling multiple functions; It is made up of a great diversity of cells that vary depending on the function they perform, more or less isodiametric and faceted, almost elongated, and characterized by being living cells, with a thin, flexible cellulose wall and a large vacuole. Parenchymal tissues are responsible for filling free spaces that other organs and tissues produce. These tissues can be considered as potential meristems because if they lose their ability to divide, their cells could resume their cell division under certain conditions.
According to their function, parenchymal tissues can be classified into four types:
Chlorophilic parenchyma or chlorenchyma: located in all green parts of the plant, this is due to the fact that the cells that form it contain chloroplasts; its main and most characteristic function is to carry out the photosynthesis process. Its cells can be of two types depending on the function they perform, which are called palisade or lagoon.
Aquifer parenchyma: found in the veins of the stems and leaves of xerophytic plants, which are those plants that contain a great tolerance to lack of water, located in desert environments or in savannas. Its cells have a huge vacuole filled with water and mucilage.
Reserve parenchyma: they are located in the roots, seeds and stems; It is made up of large colorless cells whose function is storage, since they do not perform photosynthesis, they lack chloroplasts, so they are not greenish in color but rather white. In addition, they also contain amyloplasts and leukoplasts that enable this type of cells to store starch, fats and proteins.
Aeriferous parenchyma: located in the stems and leaves of aquatic plants, which allows these plants to float, all this thanks to the existence of multiple spaces called meatus, which contain air between their cells.
