Certain plants in nature lack chlorophyll and hence are unable to create nourishment. These plants survive by using the heterotrophic way of feeding.

In heterotrophic feeding, organisms rely on autotrophs for nourishment either directly or indirectly.

Definition of Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot fix their own carbon but get nutrition from other organic sources, mostly plant or animal resources.

Different forms of heterotrophs found in plants.

In plants, heterotrophs are classified as parasites, saprophytes, insectivorous, and parasitic nourishment. 

Definition of parasite

Parasites are heterotrophs that can thrive within or out of the body of another organism, called the host.

Hosts are organisms that parasites latch onto Hosts are organisms that parasites latch onto.

In the process, the host is deprived of all nutrients necessary for its own growth as the parasite consumes them.

In certain cases, the parasite may take food from the host organism and may even eliminate it if needed.

Parasitic plants

Parasitic plants ingest nutrients from another plant to meet some or all of their nutritional needs.

An example of parasitic plant.

Cuscuta reflexa (Amarbel) is a yellow tuberous plant that twists around a tree's stem and branches. Due to its lack of chlorophyll, Cuscuta Reflexa cannot produce food and hence depends on other plants. They climb other trees, referred to as host plants, and consume the ready food. As a result, plants such as Cuscuta are referred to as parasites.

Saprophytic nutrition

Definition of Saprotrophs

A saprotroph is referred to an organism that stays alive by feeding on dead or decaying matter. Thus, Saprophytes, in general, feed on decaying materials from deceased creatures. Saprophytes are microorganisms such as fungi that are found in wet regions. In fact, throughout the wet and rainy season, the fungal spores are abundant in the air and develop as black spots on food and other goods such as pickles, leather, and clothing. They sprout and thrive on decomposing and decaying substances.

Yeast, fungus, and mushrooms are some more examples of Saprophytes.

Insectivorous plants

Certain species of plants rely on insects to meet their nitrogen requirements since they can't obtain it from the soil. These plants are termed insectivorous plants because they are carnivorous.

These plants are capable of capturing and digesting insects to get their nourishment from insects. Due to the fact that these organisms can synthesize their own food yet still meet their nitrogen requirements via insect consumption, they are referred to as partial heterotrophs.

These plants have leaves that are specialized in some form. The leaf of this plant can be shaped like a pitcher or jug.

The leaf's tip serves as a ltopicId that may be used to open and shut the pitcher's mouth.

Within the pitcher, there are many hair-like elements, with hairs pointing downward.

The vivtopicId color of the plants attracts insects and when an insect lands on the pitcher of the plant, the ltopicId automatically shuts over it, trapping the bug within.

The bug is consumed within the pitcher by the digestive secretions released instopicIde. The plant then receives the insect's nutrition.

Symbiosis -  a smart biological process

Symbiosis is derived from the Greek words 'sym', which means 'with,' and 'biosis,' which means 'alive'. Hence, the term Symbiosis refers to the coexistence of two different species.

Definition of symbiosis

When two distinct species of creatures coexist and cooperate for mutual benefit, this is referred to as symbiosis.

Symbiotic relationships exist when organisms share their shelter and nourishment. A certain form of fungus that lives within the roots of the plant provtopicIdes the plant with water and nutrients, and the fungi also acquire some nutrients from the plant.

Some commonly found examples of Symbiotic relationships.

Fungi living in the roots of trees: Many species of fungi live in the roots of trees, which provtopicIde nutrients to the fungus in exchange for the fungus' assistance in taking up water and nutrients from the soil. This association of fungi living in the roots of trees works well for both the fungi and the tree.

Rhizobium bacteria with leguminous plants 

Rhizobium bacteria atopicId in the uptake of nitrogen by leguminous plants. This bacterium is found in the nodules of leguminous plants' roots. It transforms gaseous nitrogen into a form that may be used and then releases it into the soil. Plants make use of dissolved nitrogen in the soil to grow and flourish. Thus, the bacteria called Rhizobium provtopicIdes food to the plants and in return, gets shelter from the plants.

Lichens - the symbiotic interaction between algae and fungi

Lichens refer to the mutually helping nature and the relationship between algae and fungi. The fungus feeds the alga with water, minerals, and shelter. Algae give nourishment to the fungus in exchange.

The occurrence of chlorophyll pigment in algae allows them to produce their food via photosynthesis.

A bee's relationship with a flower

Bees assist in pollen grain transmission from one flower to another and in this way, the bee assists plants in pollination. As a result, bees atopicId in the asexual reproduction of plants. The flower gives nectar to the bee in exchange.