Venus Flytrap
Dionaea muscipula J.Ellis
Dionaea muscipula, known as the Venus Flytrap, is a carnivorous plant belonging to the Droseraceae family. It is native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina on the East Coast of the United States. The plant is the sole species in the genus Dionaea and is closely related to the waterwheel plant and sundews. It captures prey, mainly insects and arachnids, using specialized leaf structures that function like jaws. These traps are activated by vibrations and contact with sensitive hairs, closing quickly when triggered.
Description
Dionaea muscipula is a carnivorous plant native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina. It is the only species in the genus Dionaea and is part of the Droseraceae family, which also includes the waterwheel plant and sundews. The plant captures prey using modified leaves that act as traps, closing when triggered by contact with sensitive hairs. The trap mechanism is activated by vibrations from the prey's movement and requires two contacts within about twenty seconds to fully close. The plant is known for its rapid response, with triggers occurring as quickly as 1⁄10 of a second after initial contact.
Other common names
Venus FlytrapVenus's flytrap
Distribution
BR · Global · Alabama · California · Florida · Jamaica · New Jersey · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Virginia · Washington
Synonyms
Dionaea corymbosaDionaea sensitivaDionaea sessilifloraDionaea unifloraDrosera sessilifloraDrosera unifloraDionaea muscipula
