noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A mechanical ground tissue, impermeable to water, which consists of cells having narrow lumen and thick, mineralized walls of lignin; present in stems, vascular bundles (of monocots), seed coverings, and vein and tips of leaves. countable, uncountable
2. 2
   The hard calcareous deposit in the tissues of the stony corals (Anthozoa). countable, uncountable

Etymology

From sclero- + -enchyma.