The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)
cr.
Carnivorous plants- some of the most amazing plants around. Venus fly traps, which are actually pretty common as houseplants, attract, trap, and digest insects that come their way. Tiny hair-like sensors on the fleshy inside of their 'leaves' trigger a thigmotropic (moving in response to touch) snapping shut of the trap. Digestive enzymes are then secreted and nutrients are absorbed from the prey until all that's left is the chitin from the exoskeleton. Then, the trap re-opens.
Native to North Carolina.
They're a bit difficult to care for, but they can live for up to 30 years in the right environment! They're used to bogs so they're best growth in peat moss kept moist. Humidity is also important so an open terrarium works well- they still need access to food so no lids.
from William Curtis' Botanical Magazine 1746- 1799. cr.
my old Venus Fly Trap (with my old blog name)...
new growth...
This was mine when it sprouted this amazing bloom...
I had this guy for about a year. Unfortunately, it died while I was away during the summer. RIP.
Carnivorous plants- some of the most amazing plants around. Venus fly traps, which are actually pretty common as houseplants, attract, trap, and digest insects that come their way. Tiny hair-like sensors on the fleshy inside of their 'leaves' trigger a thigmotropic (moving in response to touch) snapping shut of the trap. Digestive enzymes are then secreted and nutrients are absorbed from the prey until all that's left is the chitin from the exoskeleton. Then, the trap re-opens.
Native to North Carolina.
They're a bit difficult to care for, but they can live for up to 30 years in the right environment! They're used to bogs so they're best growth in peat moss kept moist. Humidity is also important so an open terrarium works well- they still need access to food so no lids.
my old Venus Fly Trap (with my old blog name)...
new growth...
This was mine when it sprouted this amazing bloom...
I had this guy for about a year. Unfortunately, it died while I was away during the summer. RIP.
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