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Do plants digest substances they ingest?

User Ian Gilroy
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Final answer:

Plants don't have a digestive system like humans, but they do have mechanisms to extract nutrients from the substances they ingest through processes like photosynthesis or by capturing and digesting organisms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plants do not have a digestive system like animals do, but they do undergo processes that help them break down and extract nutrients from the substances they ingest. One of these processes is called photosynthesis, where plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce sugars. These sugars are then used to provide energy for the plant and to build other molecules that it needs.

In addition to photosynthesis, some plants have adapted to obtain nutrients by digesting organisms. For example, carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap use their flowers to trap insects. The flowers secrete enzymes that digest the insects, and the plant absorbs the resulting nutrient molecules.

Overall, while plants don't have a digestive system like humans, they do have mechanisms to extract nutrients from the substances they ingest, whether it's through photosynthesis or by capturing and digesting organisms.

User Art Swri
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