Venus Flytrap Research Paper

As many know, a Venus flytrap (or Dionaea muscipula seed) achieves its energy not only through photosynthesis, but through devouring its prey (dragon flies, mosquitoes, etc.). The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” (trapping mechanism) is very rough and is always green. This part of the organism’s body is also covered with a fragrant nectar that attracts its prey towards it. When the prey reaches the Venus flytrap, it begins to feed off of the nectar. Once touching its leaf, the prey sets off a twenty second timer. After the time is up the two leaves close together, trapping its prey into their holdings. Although there is a way that the prey’s last few seconds alive may be shortened. This could only happen if the prey touches the organism’s six “hairs”, …show more content…
These hairs can grow up to twenty centimeters. Other than the immediate closing of the mouth, the bristles also send out a paralyzing shock to the prey who has the unfortunate luck to touch it a second time. There are ways, however, for the prey to escape death—although only if the prey does not touch the bristles. If the prey is quick enough, it could escape before the twenty second timer runs out; if it is small enough, it could escape from between the teeth; and finally, if it is large enough, it can take an extra second for the Venus flytrap to contain it, and the prey may use this extra second to escape. However, that is not the case for most of the victims, and when they are caught, they are trapped in between the two parts of the Venus flytrap’s trapping mechanism for ten days, after which the Venus flytrap awaits its next meal. The Venus flytrap must feed on its prey, due to the fact that it requires additional nutrients so it may construct cellular components to survive. The harsh soil in which the organism prefers to live in lacks these nutrients, and therefore must achieve them through its