prosenchyma Bot.
(prɒsˈɛŋkɪmə)
Also in form prosenchym.
[mod. f. Gr. πρός to, toward + ἔγχυµα infusion, after parenchyma. So F. prosenchyme, Ger. prosenchym.]
Tissue consisting of elongated cells closely placed with their ends interpenetrating, and often with the terminal partitions obliterated so as to form ducts or vessels; found in different systems of tissues, but most typically in the fibro-vascular tissue (wood, bast, etc.); hence sometimes used as synonymous with ‘fibro-vascular tissue’. Also attrib., as prosenchyma cell. (Distinguished from parenchyma 2.)
| 1832 Lindley Introd. Bot. 9 Professor Link distinguishes Parenchyma and Prosenchyma [so ed. 1835; ed. 1848 Prosenchym]. 1849 Lankester tr. Schleiden's Sci. Bot. 56 Thus originates in the place of parenchyma a peculiar tissue which is called prosenchyma. 1875 Bennett & Dyer Sachs' Bot. 78 If the cells are pointed at the ends, [etc.], then the tissue is termed Prosenchyma. Ibid. 79 The cells of such a tissue are usually elongated in the direction of its length,..and we then have Prosenchyma bundles. The most important of these are the Fibro-vascular Bundles. |