PARENCHYMA

parenchyma

(noun) animal tissue that constitutes the essential part of an organ as contrasted with e.g. connective tissue and blood vessels

parenchyma

(noun) the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

parenchyma (countable and uncountable, plural parenchymas or parenchymata)

(anatomy) The functional tissue of an organ as distinguished from the connective and supporting tissue.

(botany) The cellular tissue, typically soft and succulent, found chiefly in the softer parts of leaves, pulp of fruits, bark and pith of stems, etc.

(zoology) Cellular tissue lying between the body wall and the organs of invertebrate animals lacking a coelom, such as flatworms.