Venus Flytrap – Feed On Insects

Venus flytrap is known as Dionaea muscipula. It belongs to the kingdom - plantae, phylum – anthophyta, class – magnoliospdia, order – nepenthales  and family – droseraceae. This is one kind of interesting plant which feed on insects. Venus flytrap is the carnivorous plant. Initially scientist believed this plant to be a myth until they found the physical proof for the existence of such a plant. The plant is innocuous looking rosette. The leaf blades terminate in distinctive bivalve traps with sharply toothed edges. The length of the leaf blade is up to 12cm whereas the trap length is upto 4 cm. the trap of venus flytrap is very powerful as the  ones set by  trappers for wolves, bears etc. it is effective in catching its own small preys.

 The leaves of the venus  flytrap is open wide  and contain stiff hairs on them called trigger or sensitive hairs. The sensitive hairs at  fold of the leaf prevent them from closing every time when a drop of rain falls on it because the leave requires two or more of these hairs triggered in succession. Like other plants venus flytraps gather nutrients form gases in the air and nutrients in the soil. However they live healthier if they get nutrients from insects. Insects are attracted to the small traps. On the inner lobes there are  usually three trigger hair and if an insect lands on lobe and brushes against two of these hairs the trap with snap partially shut  with a speed that amazes onlookers. The teeth are now interlocked preventing larger prey from escaping .  The trap need to close further to produce tight seal for the prey  to be digested.

The outside of the trap is generally green  where as the inner side have red pigments that varies in shade depending on the age of the trap. Venus flytrap needs wet roots, poor acidic soil, high humidity and full sunlight to grow. The recommended soil  mixtures is one that contains sphagnum moss and sand. The plant produces the flowers in  a tall stalk above the leaves. Seeds produces by the flowers are very tiny. The Venus flytrap is listed as an endangered species. Venus flytrap is endemic to a restricted area of the Carolina’s coastal plain including southeastern, North Carolina and northeastern south Carolina.