sclereid
/ˈsklɪriɪd/
noun
- A type of plant cell with a thick, hard wall that provides strength and support, found in seed coats, nutshells, and fruit stones.
- Under a microscope, sclereids appear as thick-walled, often branched cells.
- Sclereids give coconut shells their hardness and durability.
- The gritty texture of a pear is caused by clusters of sclereids in the fruit.