Saprophytes

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Saprophyte, any organism that cannot manufacture its food by photosynthesis, and instead derives its nutriment from decaying vegetable or animal matter. Mushrooms, molds, and other types of fungi are the most abundant saprophytes. Certain types of bacteria are saprophytes, as are the seed plants Indian pipe, Monotropa uniflora, and orchids of the genus Corallorhiza. Saprophytes produce enzymes that break down organic matter into absorbable nutrients. Most saprophytic seed plants derive their food in conjunction with symbiotic fungi that are attracted to their roots and convert decaying matter into nutrients.


For more information about Saprophytes, read the full articles at wikipedia.org.

related articles:

fungi
types of Saprophytes:
  • gentian family
  • orchid family

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