Rip a leaf unevenly, with a twisting motion, to expose some of the parenchyma cells at the edge of the rip. Mount the leaf in water on a slide and observe. Using higher power and focussing carefully, you should be able to make out the cytoplasm in which the chloroplasts and other organelles are suspended. The central region of the cell appears to be empty. Careful examination of several cells may reveal a pale, spherical nucleus .
Most parenchyma cells have primary cell walls that are rather thin.
It is difficult to make out details of wall structure. However, some types of parenchyma have particularly thick primary walls. Examine a prepared slide. Find the middle lamella and the plasmodesmata which connected the living cells. Some cell types may also possess a secondary wall .