Trichosclereids are hard needlelike branched cells found in some species of plants that serve the purpose of protecting the plant from

herbivores A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically evolved to feed on plants, especially upon vascular tissues such as foliage, fruits or seeds, as the main component of its diet. These more broadly also encompass animals that eat ...

. They are usually approximately 6 mm (1/4 inch) long, but in some species they grow to as long as 1 cm (0.4 inches). Trichosclereids are a type of sclereids that can be found in

olive The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'' ("European olive"), is a species of Subtropics, subtropical evergreen tree in the Family (biology), family Oleaceae. Originating in Anatolia, Asia Minor, it is abundant throughout the Mediterranean ...

leaves and the aerial roots of the Swiss cheese plant (''

Monstera deliciosa ''Monstera deliciosa'', the Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama. It has been introduced to many tropical areas, and has become a mildly invas ...

'').

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