Venus Flytrap Dionaea muscipula 10 Seeds USA Company

Dionaea muscipula, commonly known as the “Venus flytrap,” is one of the most well-known carnivorous plants. Here’s a detailed description:

Appearance:

Trap Structure: The Venus flytrap’s most distinctive feature is its specialized leaf structures, known as traps. Each trap consists of two hinged lobes (or “jaws”) that are lined with tiny, sharp projections called trichomes or “teeth” along their edges. When an insect or other small prey makes contact with the sensitive hairs on the inner surfaces of these lobes, the trap snaps shut quickly, often in less than a second.

Size: The traps are typically 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in size, but they can occasionally be larger in some cultivated varieties.

Color: The traps can be green, red, or a combination of both, depending on the plant’s variety and environmental conditions. The inner surface of the traps often has a reddish hue, which helps attract prey.

Habitat:

Native Range: Dionaea muscipula is native to a small region of the southeastern United States, primarily in North and South Carolina. It grows in nutrient-poor, acidic soils in environments such as bogs and wet pine savannas.

Cultivation: Outside its native range, it is popular as a houseplant and can be grown in various temperate and tropical environments, provided it receives adequate light and has the right soil conditions.

Feeding:

Mechanism: When prey touches the sensitive trigger hairs (typically located in pairs) on the inner surface of the trap, the lobes close rapidly. This motion traps the prey inside. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes to break down the prey and absorb nutrients.

Diet: The Venus flytrap primarily catches insects and arachnids. It can occasionally capture other small invertebrates, but it generally avoids larger prey that could damage the trap.

Growth:

Leaf Arrangement: The plant forms a rosette of leaves close to the ground. Each leaf ends in a trap, and new traps continuously grow from the center of the rosette.

Flowers: In addition to its traps, the Venus flytrap produces a flower stalk that can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The flowers are small, white, and clustered at the top of the stalk. While the plant can flower, it typically does so less frequently and at the expense of trap production.

Varieties:

Cultivars: There are many cultivated varieties of Dionaea muscipula with different trap shapes, sizes, and colors. Some notable ones include ‘B52’, known for its large traps, and ‘Red Dragon’, which has striking red-colored traps.

Overall, Dionaea muscipula is celebrated for its unique and effective mechanism for catching and digesting prey, making it a captivating plant for enthusiasts and botanists alike.

Growing Instructions for the Venus Flytrap

Put a mixture of 1 part peat and 2 parts sand or perlite in a pot. 2. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil. 3. Put a water tray under the pot and keep it filled with water. Seeds germinate at temperatures of 15-25°C and 100% relative humidity within several weeks. Germination is rather prolonged. The young seedlings can be transplanted once they have at least 3 true leaves.