Question

Why are parasitic plants called partial heterotrophic

Answer 1

Insectivorous plants like pitcher plant contains chlorophyll; hence it is capable of preparing its own food like green plants. But insectivorous plants grow in swamps or bog areas where the soil is deficient in nitrogen mineral. So, just to fulfill its nitrogen requirement, they trap the insects and utilize their proteins. For this reason they are called partial heterotrophs. They trap prey in a rolled leaf that contain a pool of digestive enzymes or bacteria that help in the digestion of the trapped insects.