A slender cell that has tapered ends and thick cell walls with many pits that water can pass through

It seems like you're describing a type of plant cell known as a tracheid. Tracheids are part of the xylem, a tissue in vascular plants that transports water and some nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of your description:

1. "A slender cell": Tracheids are long, thin cells that connect end to end to form a continuous tube.

2. "Has tapered ends": The ends of tracheids are indeed tapered, which allows them to connect to other tracheids and form a continuous pathway for water transport.

3. "Thick cell walls": The cell walls of tracheids are thickened with lignin, a complex organic polymer that provides structural support and prevents the cells from collapsing.

4. "With many pits that water can pass through": The cell walls of tracheids have many small openings or pits. These pits allow water and dissolved nutrients to move laterally from one tracheid to another.

So, to summarize, your description seems to fit a tracheid, a type of cell found in the xylem tissue of vascular plants.