The cellss of plants are quite different from the cells of most other organisms. Their unique features are:

  1. A large vacuole (the tonoplast), used to maintain cell turgor;
  2. A cell wall made up of cellulose and protein, and in many cases lignin and deposited by the protoplast on the outside of the cell membrane;
  3. Chloroplasts, a type of plastid that contains chlorophyll.

Like other eucaryotic cells, plant cells typically also have a nucleus.

Types of Plant Cells

  • Parenchyma ~ ground tissues
  • Chlorenchyma ~ photosynthesis
  • Collenchyma ~ support
  • Sclerenchyma ~ fibers
  • Epidermal ~ surface covering
  • Cork
  • Tracheid ~ support
  • Vessel ~ elements
  • Meristematic ~ growth