Figure 1.9 Plants. Plants can play many roles in an ecosystem. (a) Most plants, such as this garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), are rooted in the soil and make organic compounds by photosynthesis. (b) Epiphytes, such as this Haraella odorata, also conduct photosynthesis but grow above the ground and are attached to other plants. (c) Carnivorous plants, such as this Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), can both photosynthesize and obtain nutrients by trapping and digesting invertebrates. (d) Some plants, such as dodder, act as parasites by taking nutrients from other plants.

Photos by (a) Zoonar/Lothar Hinz/age fotostock; (b) Kriz Petr/age fotostock; (c) Zigmund Leszczynski/Animals Animals-Earth Scenes; and (d) A Jagel/age fotostock.