Sclereids are commonly found in

Options

A. Young stems and petioles of leaves
B. Fruit walls of nuts
C. Roots
D. Fleshy stems

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Sclereids**: Sclereids are a type of sclerenchyma cell, which are characterized by being dead at maturity and having thick, lignified cell walls. They provide structural support to plants.

2. **Types of Sclereids**: There are different types of sclereids based on their shapes:
- **Brachysclereids**: Irregular in shape, found in the pulp of fruits like guava and sapota.
- **Macrosclereids**: Column-like cells, found in the epidermis of legume seeds.
- **Osteosclereids**: Bone-like shape, located in the subepidermal layer of legume seeds.
- **Astrosclereids**: Star-shaped, found in tea leaves.

3. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Option A: Young stems and petioles of leaves**: These structures primarily contain collenchyma cells for support, not sclerenchyma. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
- **Option B: Fruit walls of nuts**: This is a correct option as sclereids are commonly found in the fruit walls of nuts, providing them with hardness and protection.
- **Option C: Roots**: Roots are primarily made up of meristematic cells, which are involved in growth, not sclerenchyma. Hence, this option is incorrect.
- **Option D: Fleshy stems**: Fleshy stems usually contain parenchyma and collenchyma cells, not sclerenchyma. Thus, this option is also incorrect.

4. **Conclusion**: After analyzing all the options, the correct answer is that sclereids are commonly found in the **fruit walls of nuts**.