Diversity in Plants Nutrition

Diversity in Plant Nutrition

3.3

Diversity in Plant Nutrition

All plants can carry out photosynthesis except the parasitic plants
Some plants also diversify nutrition with photosynthesis.This due to the nutritional adaptations in certain species through evolution.
There are three plant nutrition other than photosynthesis such as carnivorous plants,parasitic plants and epiphytic plants.

Carnivorous plants:-

The carnivorous plants carry out photosynthesis to obtain glucose
Examples: tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.) and Venus flytrap (Dionae muscipula)
Grow on hill with nitrogen poor habitat and low soil pH
The leaves of carnivorous plants are adapted to trap insects
When the insects are trapped,glands on the leaf surface secrete enzymes and digest the insects
The digested products,especially amino acids that rich in nitrogen are absorbed and assimilated in the plants

Parasitic plants:-

The parasitic plants have modified roots,called haustoria
Haustoria can penetrate into vascular tissue of the host plant to absorb nutrients
Example: Rafflesia sp.

Epiphytic plants:-

Example: staghorn fern,bird's nest fern and epiphytic orchids
Have modified roots to dry environment and can anchor to the host plant on trunk,branch or other surfaces where they grow
Have roots and leaves to absorb mineral and water from rain water
The epiphytic plants do not harm the host plants