Parasitic and saprophytic flowering plants
During the course of evolution, a few species of flowering plants lost their green leaves and with it the ability to photosynthesize. To survive, some flowering plants (the holoparasites) rely totally on other living plants for their food, while others (the saprophytes) obtain organic nutrients from dead plant material. Still others (the hemiparasites) retain their green leaves but obtain their water and mineral nutrient source from a living plant. In Malaysia, it is notable that all holoparasites and hemiparasites are dicotyledons, while most saprophytes (with the exception of Epirixanthes) are monocotyledons.
- Information in the full article includes
- Hemiparasites
- Holoparasites
- Saprophytes (Mycoheterotrophs)
- Conservation
