Pawan Prajapati
Last Activity: 3 Years ago
Think of an edible fungus also known as a toadstool. They are a rich source of nutrients.
Complete answer: The non-green plant that we consume is the mushroom. The presence of chlorophyll pigment provides green color to the plant. Thus, the absence of chlorophyll pigments makes mushrooms non-green plants and hence they do not perform photosynthesis, instead gain energy from dead and decaying organic matter.
These fungi are saprophytic in nature. There is no common ancestry with the plants but following the two-kingdom classification, fungi come under the kingdom Plantae though they are more related to Animalia.
Fig: Edible mushroom
Additional information: Mushrooms are a rich source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (chemicals that help the body eliminate free radicals). These can have various health benefits. Free radicals are the byproducts of metabolism and other bodily processes that are toxic to the system. They get accumulated resulting in oxidative stress which is harmful for the body’s cells and may lead to illness.
According to the study performed in the National Cancer Institute, the antioxidant content in mushrooms may help prevent lung, prostate, breast, and other types of cancer.
Dietary fiber content of mushrooms may help manage several health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular health is also looked after by the fiber, potassium, and vitamin C present in mushrooms. Pregnant ladies often consume folate supplements to boost foetal growth. Mushrooms can also provide folate. Mushrooms are also rich in B vitamins, such as riboflavin, or B-2; folate, or B-9; thiamine, or B-1; pantothenic acid, or B-5; niacin, or B-3
Note: Stichomythia is the known process through which non-green plants usually manufacture their food.