Why does the Pitcher plant (*Nepenthes*) capture and digest small insects even though its green leaves…

Why does the Pitcher plant (*Nepenthes*) capture and digest small insects even though its green leaves produce food through photosynthesis?
  1. It cannot absorb water from the soil through roots
  2. It grows in soil that lacks essential nitrogenous minerals
  3. It lacks the green pigment chlorophyll required to make proteins
  4. Digesting insects supplies energy needed for opening flowers

Solution

Pitcher plants grow in soil poor in nitrogen; they digest insects to obtain nitrogen compounds necessary for protein synthesis.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

Practice more Nutrition and Diet questions on Aicharya