Venus flytrap is a plant that traps insects in its leaves and digests them. Because it digests insects, it is called a carnivorous (meat-eating) plant. The Venus flytrap lives in the coastal regions of North and South Carolina. The plant grows in bogs where the soil has little nitrogen or phosphorus. The insects provide these nutrients in the plant’s diet. But like other plants, it needs sunshine to produce energy. It is also called Dionaea << `dy` uh NEE uh >>.
Venus flytrap
The Venus flytrap catches insects in its oddly shaped leaves. The lower portion of the leaf is bladelike. The upper portion has two lobes hinged to a rib, forming a “trap” about 4/5 inch to 1 3/16 inches (2 to 3 centimeters) long. The inner surface of each lobe has a few—usually three—sensitive hairs. In addition, the edges of the two lobes are fringed with sharp bristles. When an insect lights on the leaf and disturbs the sensitive hairs, the trap closes, holding the insect inside. Special glands of the leaf produce a digestive fluid. The fluid digests the soft parts of the insect. After the plant has taken in the digested insect, the trap opens. The leaf is then in position to capture more prey. After a leaf has caught several insects, it withers and dies.
The plant grows close to the ground, with its leaves growing from a central point. A mature plant measures up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) wide. When a Venus flytrap is ready to flower, it puts out a tall stalk from the center of its leaves. The stalk grows about 1 foot (30 centimeters) high. It bears a cluster of small white blossoms at the top.
Wild Venus flytraps are protected by state laws and international agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) . People who illegally collect the plants can be fined or imprisoned.
See also Carnivorous plant; Sundew.
