1. Plants are any organism in the Kingdom Plantae. Plants are any organism that contains chlorophyll and can manufacture its own food. Plants are essential for any ecosystem and provides all energetic for the ecosystem, because they get their energy directly from sunlight. This is a process called photosynthesis, where the energy from the sun is used to grow and reproduce. Plants must get their nutrients from soil. The nutrients get into the soil when decomposers break down wastes and dead materials. All other organisms in the food chain get their energy from plants. In this experiment, Marigolds are being used. Marigolds were first discovered by the Portuguese in Central America in the 16th century. Marigolds are a genus of annual and perennial,