CBSE Class 11-science Answered

Q:What is the part modified for food storage in portulaca?

Q:What is the difference between the roots of aquatic and terrestrial plants?

Q:How does the modification of leaf in the pitcher plant help the plant for food even though it can photosynthesize like any other green plant?

Q:What is the edible part of coconut? What does milk of tender coconut represent?

Asked by parushbamrah.98 | 26 Apr, 2015, 08:28: AM

Expert Answer

Dear parushbamrah.98@gmail.com

Thanks for asking us a question in Ask the Expert section of TopperLearning.com.

Answer to one of your questions is given below:

Some plants like the pitcher plant, Bladderwort plant and Sundew plant that are green in colour can synthesise their own food, but are unable to obtain nitrogen from the roots as they grow in marshy areas. Hence, they depend partially on insects for nitrogenous food. In such plants, the leaves are modified to trap insects.

In pitcher plant, the pitcher-like structure is the modified part of the leaf. The apex of the leaf forms a lid which can open and close the mouth of the pitcher. Inside the pitcher there are hair which are directed downwards. The nectar in the pitcher lures the insects. When an insect lands in the pitcher, the lid closes and the trapped insect gets entangled into the hair. The insect that gets trapped in the jug-shaped sac are unable to escape. The insect is digested by the digestive juices secreted in the pitcher. Such insect-eating plants are called insectivorous plants.

In case of multiple questions within a query, please post each question individually and let us know where you are getting stuck so that we would be able to explain things better.

Regards

Topperlearning Team.

Answered by Sheetal Kolte | 27 Apr, 2015, 10:59: AM