Saprophyte

saprophyte (noun, pl. saprophytes;ecology term) – a plant that feeds indirectly on organic material. The term is rather misleading because plants, which have lost their chlorophyll, actually cannot not directly feed on organic material. Unlike true saprobes, these plants are not capable to act as destruents, decomposing organic material to obtain their nutrients. Instead saprotrophic plants live parasitic on saprobic fungi.

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Other Resources: Flora Australia Fungi, Lichens  •  Glossary at Mushroom  •  Cornell Pl. Path.  •  APS Pl. Path.: A-D E-H I-M N-R S-V W-Z.
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