Venus+Flytrap

The Venus Flytrap, //Dionaea muscipula//
How does our Venus Flytrap catch and eat its insects? We read heaps of interesting facts about the VFT's unusual adaptations... Then we went hunting....
 * [[image:venus_flytrap2-22.JPG width="383" height="291" align="center"]]

The VFT's "fingers of cilia, which help to prevent the insect from escaping from the trap as the trap closes over it. ||

The green area of "alluring" glands which produce a sweet juice to attract the insect. ||
 * [[image:venus4-9.jpg width="389" height="295" align="center"]]

The white dots are the glands which produce the digestive juices to break down the soft parts of the insect, and the antiseptic juices which kill harmful bacteria on the trapped insect. ||

The (green) rib between the base of the leaf lobes which releases water when the trap is triggered and changes the lobe shape to ensure an airtight seal. ||
 * [[image:venus_flytrap2-21.JPG width="383" height="293" align="center"]]

The triangle of sensitive hairs which trigger the leaf lobes to snap shut when an insect enters the trap. ||

A trigger hair with its hinge at the base, to allow the hair to bend without breaking off. ||