Saprophyte

A saprophyte or saprotroph is an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter. This may be decaying pieces of plants or animals. This means that saprophytes are heterotrophs. They are consumers in the food chain.

This is the typical life-style of fungi. Some fungi are parasites on living organisms, but most are saprophytes. Many bacteria and protozoa are also saprophytes. To put it simply, most dead organic matter is eventually broken down and used by bacteria and fungi. Lastly, slime moulds are also saprophytes, as well as consuming bacteria.Examples of saprophytic bacteria include cheese mold, lactic acid, yeast and rotting kitchen waste. Saprophytic bacteria are fungal organisms that feed off of decaying organic matter. The term "saprophyte" refers specifically to fungal and bacterial saprotrophs, but animal saprotrophs are known as saprozoites.

Other terms, such as 'saprotroph' or 'saprobe' may be used instead of saprophyte. Strictly speaking, -phyte means 'plant'. The problem is that no embryophytes (land plants) are true saprotrophs, and bacteria and fungi are no longer considered plants. Nevertheless, saprophyte is such a well-known term that most writers continue to use it .

saprophytes are oganisms which feed on dead organic matter. you might have seen mushrooms growing on decaying plant parts .These organisms derive their food from these dead plants or animals. other examples of saprophytes are monotropa and some types of bacteria

Myco-heterotrophy

A heterotroph is a general term for an organism that needs organic material to get its carbon for growth and development. Many plants which lack chlorophyll need fungi to break down organic material for them. Traditionally, they were called saprophytes. Now they are given a new name: myco-heterotrophy. quite a number of orchids and gentians.