Venus Flytrap: Dionaea muscipula

A Plant with a Nervous System?

Charles Darwin when he was first introduced to the plant in the 19thcentury declaired it as "one of the most wonderful in the world."  Scientists have marvled in the miraculous way the venus flytrap can close and capture prey in a fraction of a second.  While plants do not have a nervous system, they do send signals.  Yet, the way these plants are able to snap shut has remained a mystery until now.  

The carnivorous Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) will catch and eat small insects and spiders when the hairs on the inside of its 'trap' are triggered.  The prey that the Venus Flytrap aquires helps the plant aquire additional nutrients, allowing it to survive in an otherwise nutrient limiting environment, like bogs.

Where can you see Wild Venus Flytrap?

Oddly, the venus fly trap is the only species that works by snapping its modified teethed leaves around insects.  Other carnivorous plants like sundews, bladderworts and pitcher plants work slightly different.  Yet, the venus flytrap has a very restricted range.  It is only found natively within about a 60 mile radius of Willmington, NC.  It grows in the Nitrogen poor boggy soils up and down the coastline.  Green Swamp and Carolina beach park are both great places to see the plant.