Question

The plant which traps and feeds on insects is

• A. Cuscuta
• B. China rose
• C. Pitcher plant
• D. Rose

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Pitcher plant

The correct option is C.

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Pitcher plants are attractive in nature.
2. Pitcher plants attract insects through their odour and colour.
3. Pitcher plants have a jar and lid like mechanism which actually closes the lid when the insect gets to sit on it.
4. Pitcher plants also have a digestive enzyme inbuilt which actually digests the insect when it gets trapped in it and it gets digested.

Explanation of the incorrect options:

Option A:

1. Cuscuta are parasitic plants.
2. They cannot produce their own food as they don’t have the green pigment called chlorophyll.
3. So, they therefore depend on other plants for their essential nutrients and hence they depend on the host for food and don’t use the mechanism of trapping insects.

Option B:

1. China Rose are generally autotrophs by nature.
2. They can readily prepare their own food by means of photosynthesis as they contain pigment chlorophyll.
3. Hence they don’t use the mechanism of trapping their prey.

Option D:

1. Rose is an autotroph.
2. So, they need not depend on other species for food and hence can prepare their own food by the process of photosynthesis.
3. Hence they don’t use the mechanism of trapping their prey.

Final answer: The plant which traps and feeds on insects is pitcher plant.