Do all plants do photosynthesis and use carbon dioxide? Ask Dr G at FT Exploring.
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Autotrophic Plant Small Mindedness:
"I've got nothing against those saprophytes. Some of my best friends are saprophytes. But they shouldn't be allowed in the plant kingdom. They should stay in their own kingdom. Whatever that is."
     The chemical symbol for carbon dioxide is CO2. There is one carbon (C) atom connected to two Oxygen (O) atoms. The little 2 beside the O is to show there are two O atoms.
     Mushrooms are a type of fungus. Back in simpler times fungus were considered part of the plant kingdom. Now fungi have their own kingdom called, of all things, the Fungi Kingdom. Fungi are not capable of photosynthesis and therefore do not use carbon dioxide.
 
     Green plants, like those shown above and below, are autotrophic. Autotrophic plants can make all their food and energy needs from solar energy and just a few inorganic materials - carbon dioxide, water, and some minerals.
 
     Semiparasitic plants can do photosynthesis and therefore do use carbon dioxide. But they also have to take some of their nutrients from an autotrophic host plant. Why? Because they can't make their own. That's why.
There's nothing like the plants insectivorous,
If we were small or they were big,
                    We'd hope that they'd ignore us.
     These guys really do eat little insects and other small animals. They do use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, but they are happiest if they can supplement a few nutrients by eating an occasional animal. Well, it serves us right. We animals are always eating plants.