Sclerenchyma are considerably thick-walled lignified, supportive tissue characterised by the absence of living protoplast. They show great variation in shape, size, origin and development and their principal function is to provide mechanical support. Sclerenchyma possess ability to bear compression, pull, bending and shearing forces. Mettenius (1805) discovered and coined the term 'Sclerenchyma'. They are of two types-Sclerenchyma fibres and sclereids.