Which structure allows a virus to recognize and attach to receptors on the host cell

The answer is envelope.

A virus is an infectious agent that can replicate only inside a host cell. When it is outside the cell, it consists of genetic material coated with protein capsid. Some viruses, such as Influenza virus and HIV virus, also have an envelope which covers capsid. The envelope is an outer lipid bilayer that is studded with proteins. The function of the envelope is to identify and bind some receptor sites on the host membranes. After fusing with the cell membrane, it allows to capsid and genetic material to enter the cell and infect it.

it is a limiting nutrient limited by a single nutrient in the ecosystem, & the single goes very slow.