The most well-known type of carnivorous plant is the Venus flytrap. It impresses with its unique traps, so-called snap traps. This type of carnivore is unique and only occurs naturally in a very limited area of the world. Venus fly traps - a profile.

The Venus Flytrap is probably the most popular carnivorous plant

Venus flytrap - a wanted poster

  • Botanical name: Dionaea muscipula
  • Plant family: Droseraceae (sundew family)
  • Plant type: herbaceous, carnivorous (flesh-eating)
  • Species: only one species (monotypic)
  • Natural Occurrence: Pocosin Moore (North and South Dakota, USA)
  • Location: sunny, humid
  • Size: up to 10 cm in height
  • Growth: develops up to 4 traps per month
  • Age: up to 50 years
  • Leaves: green
  • Flowers: White flowers on stalks up to 50 cm long
  • Propagation: seeds, division, leaf cuttings
  • Insect trap: snap trap
  • Hardiness: only hardy in protected locations
  • Use: ornamental plant indoors, in summer in bog beds

Discovery of the Venus Flytrap

Since the Venus flytrap is only found in one particular place, it is not surprising that the carnivorous plant was first mentioned in 1759. It was discovered within a radius of 100 kilometers around the US town of Wilmington.

Soon after it became known, this extraordinary plant began a triumphal procession around the world.

This temporarily led to the Venus flytrap being threatened with extinction. In the meantime, the plant has also been established in Northwest Florida. Since Venus flytraps are easy to reproduce, the range of cultivated specimens is very large.

Poorly developed roots

The root system of a Venus flytrap is only weakly developed. First, a taproot grows, which stabilizes the plant. This will recover later.

The roots grow up to 15 centimeters deep. If the above-ground parts of the Venus flytrap die off, they often sprout again from the underground rhizomes.

This is how the Venus flytrap catches insects

The snap traps are red in color, which attracts insects. If they sit down on the trap, it closes in a flash and encloses the insect.

The prey is digested by a digestive secretion. The digestion process takes about ten days.

The snap trap can open up to seven times and then die.

tips

The Latin name of the Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula is composed of the name of the Greek goddess Dione (mother of Venus) and the word for mousetrap.

Category:

Vegetable garden