What is a key characteristic of collenchyma tissue?

Collenchyma tissue is primarily characterized by its living cells that are capable of growth and division, which feature thickened, uneven cell walls. This specific cell wall structure provides flexibility and support to young stems and petioles while allowing for growth. The uneven thickness of these walls is what differentiates collenchyma from other types of plant support tissues, such as sclerenchyma, which has uniformly thickened, dead cell walls at maturity.

In plants, collenchyma is particularly important in providing structural support to non-woody parts while still allowing for growth and bending. This adaptability is vital for young plants, which must sustain mechanical stress without compromising their ability to grow.

This understanding contextualizes the other options, where one mentions features not characteristic of collenchyma, such as cells being dead at maturity, the absence of cytoplasm, and primary involvement in photosynthesis—all of which relate to other plant tissue types. Thus, the thick, uneven cell walls are indeed the defining feature of collenchyma tissue.