The Ground Tissue System: Parenchyma, Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma
Between the plant’s outer skin and its internal plumbing lies a vast middle territory — the ground tissue system. This quiz tests your grasp of how that system is defined, which simple tissues build it, and where each one occurs in primary stems, roots and leaves.
What you will practise
- The definition of ground tissue by exclusion of epidermis and vascular bundles
- The three simple tissues: parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma
- Parenchyma in cortex, pericycle, pith and medullary rays of primary stems and roots
- Mesophyll as the thin-walled, chloroplast-containing ground tissue of leaves
Tip: Read each question carefully — several options are true statements about plants in general but do not match the chapter’s exact wording.
Q1. According to the chapter, which tissues constitute the ground tissue?
The chapter defines ground tissue by exclusion: all tissues except the epidermis and vascular bundles constitute the ground tissue.
Q2. The ground tissue system consists of which set of simple tissues?
The ground tissue is composed of simple tissues such as parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.
Q3. In the primary stems and roots, parenchymatous cells are usually present in which regions?
The chapter states that parenchymatous cells are usually present in cortex, pericycle, pith and medullary rays in the primary stems and roots.
Q4. In leaves, the ground tissue consists of thin-walled chloroplast-containing cells and is called:
In leaves the ground tissue is made of thin-walled chloroplast-containing cells and is called mesophyll.
Q5. Which of the following is explicitly excluded from the ground tissue system?
The definition excludes the epidermis and the vascular bundles; cortex, pith and medullary rays are ground tissue.
Q6. Which of the following is explicitly excluded from the ground tissue system?
The ground tissue is defined as all tissues except the epidermis and vascular bundles, so the epidermis is excluded.
Q7. A student examines a transverse section of a primary root and identifies the cortex. The cortex belongs to which tissue system?
The cortex is listed among the regions where parenchymatous cells of the ground tissue occur in primary stems and roots.
Q8. The medullary rays that lie between vascular bundles are composed of which tissue?
Parenchymatous cells are usually present in the medullary rays, which are part of the ground tissue.
Q9. Which statement about the ground tissue of leaves is correct?
The leaf ground tissue is mesophyll, made of thin-walled chloroplast-containing cells.
Q10. Which of the following is NOT one of the simple tissues that make up the ground tissue system?
The ground tissue consists of parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma; phloem is a vascular tissue.
Q11. The pith at the centre of a primary stem is best described as:
Parenchymatous cells are usually present in the pith, which is ground tissue.
Q12. Which pair of tissues forms the two boundaries that define the ground tissue by exclusion?
Ground tissue is everything except the epidermis (outer boundary) and the vascular bundles (inner strands).
Q13. Collenchyma and sclerenchyma are best classified as:
The ground tissue consists of the simple tissues parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.
Q14. The pericycle of a primary stem or root is composed of which tissue?
Parenchymatous cells are usually present in the pericycle, which is part of the ground tissue.
Q15. Which statement best captures the chapter's definition of ground tissue?
The chapter defines ground tissue by exclusion: all tissues except the epidermis and vascular bundles.