The branched sclereids present in hydrophytes are

• osteosclereids

• trichosclereids

• macrosclereids

• astrosclereids

D.

astrosclereids

Sclereids are highly thickened dead sclerenchyma cells with very narrow cavities. They may also be branched. They provide stiffness to the parts in which they occur. It is of many types : brachysclereids, macrosclereids, osteosclereids, astrosclereids, trichosclereids and filiform sclereids.

Astrosclereids are star-shaped, having various branches or arms. They are found in intercellular spaces of leaves and stems of many hydrophytes like Nymphaea.

Osteosclereid is the sclereid forming the hypodermal layer in many fruits and seeds. It also occurs in the leaves of certain xerophytes.

Trichosclereids are hard needle like branched cells found in some species of plants that serve the purpose of protecting the plant from herbivores.

Macrosclereid is one of the columnar sclereids that often form an outer layer in various fruits and seeds and also occur in the stems of some plants.