Question

Pitcher plant traps insects because it
(A)Is a heterotroph
(B)Grows in soils which lack nitrogen
(C)Does not have chlorophyll
(D)Has a digestive system like human beings.

Answer 1

Hint Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants even though they are completely capable of photosynthetic nutrition. The reason behind such adaptive nature lies in their environment where they grow. They modify their organs in such a way that they can easily capture their prey.

Complete answer:
Pitcher plants trap insects in its modified trap-like organ to fulfill its requirements of Nitrogen and other nutrients as it grows in soil that lacks nitrogen. The dead insect inside its trap provides such nutrients required for normal functioning of the plant.

Additional Information:
To lure the insects to it, the plant uses various means such as Anthocyanin pigments and nectar. The trap contains nectar on its rim which makes it slippery enough for the insect to fall into it. The insect can be of any type- foraging, flying, or crawling. The plant contains various parts like scales and folds to prevent the fly from coming out of the trap.
Once the insect falls into it, phytotelmata drown the insects and it gets dissolved by the action of enzymes or bacteria. The body of the insect transforms into amino acids, peptides, phosphates, ammonia, etc which provides the plant its required nitrogen and phosphorus content and helps them to survive in soils too poor for most plants to grow.

So, the correct answer is “Grows in soils which lack nitrogen”.

Note: Below are some facts about pitcher plants:
-Some of the pitcher plants establishes a mutualistic relationship with insect larvae and allows them to feed on the trapped prey and obtains nutrition from the excreta.
-Plants like N. lowii have a symbiotic relationship with tree shrews that feed on nectar produced by the plant and in turn defecate inside the pitcher providing nutrition to the plant.