The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

Now an endangered species in the wild, the Venus Fly Trap is familiar to most people.

It is found only in the North and South Carolinas' in the USA, and of all carnivorous plants it is surely the most dramatic with it's jaw-like traps complete with two rows of 'teeth'.

The plant attracts insects by the red coloration of the traps, which intensifies in strong sunlight, and also by nectar which is secreted by cells along the base of the 'teeth'.

Once inside the trap, the insect must touch any two of the six trigger hairs (or the same one twice). Three of these hairs are situated on each half or lobe of the leaf.

This is a safeguard against the leaf being triggered by a foreign body such as a piece of debris blowing through the trap.

Once the first trigger hair has been stimulated, the second stimuli must take place within a space of 2 and about 40 seconds for the trap to work.

Because of the fact that the plant can recognise the two stimuli, it is the only member of the plant kingdom that can actually count!

When first triggered, the leaf closes only loosely to allow prey items which are too small to be of value, to escape through the gaps in the teeth, but if the animal is large enough to be digested it will trigger the trap further by it's movements and the leaf will produce an airtight seal.

Digestive enzymes are then released on to the animal and it's soft parts are broken down and absorbed.

The trap can close in as little as one tenth of a second, and depending on the size of the prey will stay closed for between two days and two weeks. When the trap re-opens only the outer exoskeleton remains, to be blown out or washed out by rains.

photo by Martin Mulchinock

Compost: Moss peat and lime free horticultural sand in a ratio of 1:1, or plain moss peat.

Water: Rain or distilled/deionised water only. Stand in about an inch of water during the growing season approximately March-November), and keep only damp over the ormant winter months when the growth dies back.

Light: Full direct sun.

Temperature: Being a temperate plant, the UK climate is good for this plant. However, in winter when the plant goes through a dormant period it should be protected from the elements by placing in a cold greenhouse, porch, or shed/garage window. As the plant is not in active growth, full sunlight is not as essential.

If grown on a sunny windowsill, this dormant period must be respected and the plant should be moved somewhere cold in the autumn (November time), until growth resumes in early spring.

Flowers appear in the spring, and should be removed when they are seen as they weaken the plant.