Question

Sundews grow in peatlands and attain many of their nutrients by

a) Absorbing nutrients through roots
b) Capturing insects
c) Absorbing sunlight directly
d) Decomposing organic matter

Answer 1

Sundews attain their nutrients mainly by capturing insects using the sticky tentacles on their leaves to supplement the poor nutritional availability of their native peatland habitats.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sundews are fascinating carnivorous plants that obtain many of their nutrients through an unusual mechanism different from most plants. These plants grow in nutrient-poor environments such as peatlands. Instead of relying heavily on their roots to absorb nutrients, sundews capture insects to supplement their nutritional needs.

The sundews have tentacles on their leaves that secrete a sticky fluid to attract and entrap insects. Once an insect is captured, the tentacles secrete enzymes to digest the prey and the plant then absorbs the soluble nutrients. Therefore, the correct answer to the question of how sundews attain many of their nutrients is by capturing insects.