Final answer:
Central vacuoles in plant cells store water, creating turgor pressure that supports and maintains the plant's structure. This mechanism is especially important in plants like aloe and cacti that store large amounts of water for use in arid environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cells within plants that store water to provide pressure for support are known as central vacuoles. These central vacuoles have a significant role in maintaining the rigidity of plant cells, which contributes to the plant structure's overall stability and support. The water stored in central vacuoles creates turgor pressure, which is essential in keeping plant tissues firm and upright.
Examples of plants that rely on this mechanism include the aloe plant, with its large, hollow leaves, and the cactus, with its stout, barrel-shaped stems. Both of these plants are adapted to store water effectively in their tissues, which helps them maintain structure and survive in arid conditions. This ability of central vacuoles to store water is crucial, not just for maintaining the physical structure of plants but also for various physiological functions such as nutrient storage and waste management.