Supporting tissues keep plants upright. Collenchyma provides flexibility, allowing fresh twigs to bend without breaking. Sclerenchyma makes seed coats hard and strong. Specialised parenchyma with air spaces helps aquatic plants float easily on water surfaces.
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The increase in girth is caused by continuous division of cells in the lateral meristem. These cells form new tissues concentrically inside and outside the stem, increasing diameter, producing annual rings and strengthening the plant body over time.
Plants grow in girth through the activity of lateral meristem present along the stem circumference. These actively dividing cells produce new cells inside and outside, increasing stem thickness and forming annual growth rings in woody plants gradually.