What is saprophytic? Explain
Saprophytes are living organisms that feed on dead organic matter, unlike parasites that live on living organisms. They are considered extremely important in soil biology. They break down dead and decaying organic matter into simple substances that can be taken up and recycled by plants. So you see they are helpful, unlike parasites which are harmful to nature.
Examples are fungi and some bacteria. Breaking up the word we get, “phyte” meaning plant which is different from fungi and bacteria. But perhaps it points to certain types of orchids and a family of flowering plants called monotropes. Monotropes do not use photosynthesis to make nutrients and it was believed that they extracted nutrients from dead organic matter. It is now understood that these types of plants are actually parasites that obtain their food by growing on living fungi. Nevertheless, there are no known true saprophytic plants.
Saprophytes are living organisms that feed on dead organic matter, unlike parasites that live on living organisms. They are considered extremely important in soil biology. They break down dead and decaying organic matter into simple substances that can be taken up and recycled by plants. So you see they are helpful, unlike parasites which are harmful to nature.
Examples are fungi and some bacteria. Breaking up the word we get, “phyte” meaning plant which is different from fungi and bacteria. But perhaps it points to certain types of orchids and a family of flowering plants called monotropes. Monotropes do not use photosynthesis to make nutrients and it was believed that they extracted nutrients from dead organic matter. It is now understood that these types of plants are actually parasites that obtain their food by growing on living fungi. Nevertheless, there are no known true saprophytic plants.
