Venus flytrap story for children. Description of the Venus flytrap and where the predatory plant lives

Dionea flycatcher (Dionaea muscipula), also called "Venus flytrap" is the most famous "predator" plant on the North American continent. This is the only species in the genus.

Venus flytrap(lat. Dionaea muscipula) is a species of carnivorous plants from the monotypic genus Dionaea of the Rosyankovye family (Droseraceae). The scientific specific name (muscipula) is translated from Latin as "mousetrap", probably by mistake of a botanist, at least that's what is commonly believed. Russian name The species was named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and plants. English name species (eng. Venus flytrap) corresponds to Russian.

An adult copy of the flycatcher (it catches and assimilates not only flies, but also mosquitoes and other insects) usually does not exceed 15 cm. In spring, the Venus flytrap blooms with white flowers on a long peduncle.

The original habitat of the carnivorous Dionea is peat bogs in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina (USA). Venus flytraps grow in an area called "savannah" - consisting of relief lowland "islands" with an area of 1 to 5 hectares (no more than fifty of them have survived in their virgin form).

The trap of the Venus flytrap consists of two halves-shutters, vaguely resembling the opening shells of mollusks in their structure. Along the edges of the valves are two rows of teeth. Glands are located along the rim of the valve, along the inner row of teeth of the trap. They produce and secrete a pleasant-smelling nectar that attracts insects to the trap. Each of the two inner flat surfaces of the dionea trap is equipped with three trigger hairs. If insects in the process of absorbing nectar repeatedly touch these hairs, then the trap begins to close.

At first, the Venus flytrap trap is only slightly covered, and the insects have the opportunity to move back and forth within the trap. If the insect is small, in principle, it has a chance to avoid the deplorable fate of being eaten and escape by slipping through the hole between the teeth. When this happens, the triggers stop being stimulated and the trap fully opens again (about a day later). Dionea simply needs this response mechanism: it helps to prevent the loss of time for a “false triggering” of the trap due to extraneous interference (for example, raindrops, sticks brought by the wind, twigs or chitin shells of insects).

But if the bug that got into the trap of the dionea trap could not get out of it, then the stimulation of triggers continues, the trap closes more and more tightly. The process of digestion begins. From the glands located on the inner surfaces of the valves of the trap of the Venus flytrap, digestive juice is abundantly secreted - the insect completely drowns in this liquid. The trap remains closed for several days. When it finally opens, only the undigested chitinous shell of the former insect is exposed. Each Venus flytrap trap is designed for about three digestive processes, and then it dies.

There are two alternative hypotheses for the effect of this impulse. According to one of them, these cells rapidly release hydroxonium ions into the cell walls, loosening and causing their rapid swelling by osmosis. According to the second hypothesis, the cells in the inner layers of the blades and the middle part of the leaf rapidly secrete other ions, water is also released as a result of osmosis, which leads to cell collapse.

If the prey was unable to free itself, it continues to stimulate inner surface leaf blades, causing cell growth. Eventually, the edges of the sheets close, completely closing the trap and forming a "stomach" in which the digestion process takes place. Digestion is catalyzed by enzymes that are secreted by glands in the lobes. Digestion takes approximately 10 days, after which only an empty chitinous shell remains of the prey. After that, the trap opens and is ready to capture new prey. During the life of the trap, an average of three insects fall into it.

Venus Flytrap is perfect not only for decorating the windowsill, but also for an interesting introduction of your children to the fascinating and entertaining world of nature.

The first and most common misconception about the Venus Flytrap is that it requires very difficult care, since it comes from southern latitudes, that it is very demanding on high temperature and humidity. In fact, these plants come from fairly cold northern latitudes and they are perennials.

These plants are found naturally in southeastern Northern California, growing in open, sunny, and moist grasslands. In addition, the Flycatcher grows in the northeastern swamps of South Carolina, preferring swamps with peaty and sandy soils. Although Flycatchers grow in marshes, they are extremely intolerant of stagnant air, and require several hours in full sun. In the winter period of rest, the vital activity of plants decreases, at such a time they prefer low temperatures and short days, which is much smaller than summer period amount sunlight.

In order to achieve significant success in the cultivation of this plant, extreme attention should be paid to the conditions in which the Flycatcher grows in nature and what its requirements are, accordingly, to the natural factors surrounding it.

The growth cycle of the Venus Flytrap consists of four periods, with different types of growth in each period. In the spring, coming out of winter dormancy, the plant produces a rosette of leaves, 2-4 inches (5-10cm) in diameter. at the same time, several stems with white flowers may appear.

In summer, several more types of leaves appear. On top of the lower leaves pressed low to the ground, new ones grow, which are held high enough on the stems above the ground. Traps grow out of them. Leaves with traps grow constantly, replacing their dead predecessors.

When the days begin to get shorter and colder, the plant begins to prepare for hibernation, during this period only the lower rosette of leaves remains.
The flycatcher belongs to semi-evergreen plants. Even in winter period a few leaves remain on the surface. The leaves are quite tolerant of frost, but in extreme cold they can die off. The underground part remains alive. Tiny bulbs that look like lily bulbs are gaining strength to thrive next spring.

Flycatcher can be grown in swamp gardens, terrariums with appropriate microclimate, even if you choose to keep it on a windowsill, it will do quite well. If the plant is growing on a windowsill, place the Flycatcher pot in a tray or container filled with 2-3 centimeters of rainwater or distilled water. Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out. The plant should be kept in a window where it will be guaranteed several hours of light, preferably in the morning, since the midday sun can scorch the plants. Probably the most interesting thing for Flycatcher owners is its feeding, after all, it is for this purpose that carnivorous plants are usually purchased, but it should be in moderation. The flycatcher should be given soft insects that can be easily digested by its traps. If you overfeed the leaf, it may die. In no case should Muholova be fed fried and raw meat, or very large insects, because they are not completely digested by the plant, which starts the process of decay inside the trap.

Providing sufficient and natural amount of light for the Flycatcher daily will help the plant to go into a state of winter dormancy in time. This will be a consequence of the reduction in the amount of sunlight closer to autumn. At this time, new leaves practically do not grow, and only a small rosette of them remains. The flycatcher should be provided with a low temperature in order for the plant to enter a state of winter dormancy. The pot with the plant can no longer be kept in a pan with water, but at the same time, make sure that the earth does not dry out, then the Flycatcher should be placed in a room with a temperature of 2 - 10 ˚С. For this purpose, an unheated basement or a room, or a section in the refrigerator, with the appropriate temperature, is perfect. When storing the flycatcher in the refrigerator for winter, the plant pot should be placed in a plastic bag to prevent the soil from drying out. Lighting during this period is not at all necessary for the Flycatcher, however, during the winter it must be checked regularly to prevent drying out, or vice versa - decay. Hibernation for this plant is extremely important, if it grows continuously throughout the year, it may die from a lack of energy.

With the onset of warm spring days, the plant can be taken out again on former place, and soon its growth will resume. At this time, the Flycatcher blooms and noticeably increases in size. In the same period, it can be transplanted using a peat or peat-sand mixture. Regular garden soil mixes should not be used as they are not suitable for Flycatcher in terms of acidity.

Growing Flycatcher in terrariums imitating a swamp is practically no different from growing in pots. The only difference is that in a terrarium it is a little more difficult to provide sufficient lighting. For the normal growth of the Flycatcher, a terrarium with a volume of 40-75 liters will suffice. The bottom of the terrarium can be laid out with a layer of moss and peat, or a peat-sand mixture. Since the soil must constantly be moistened, a drainage layer is not necessary. For irrigation, use only distilled or rain water, as minerals from untreated water will accumulate in this soil. In order to provide a sufficient amount of illumination, a 40 watt fluorescent lamp can be used, which should be installed at a height of 20-30 cm above the plants. It should be borne in mind that the higher the terrarium, the more difficult it is to light it. The duration of artificial lighting should be adjusted depending on the season. During the flytrap's transition period to winter dormancy, the terrarium should be moved to an unheated basement or room, or removed from the terrarium, leaving some moss and peat, placed in plastic bags and transfer to the refrigerator.

If it allows climate zone, Venus Muholova can be grown in a garden on the street, creating the pre-requisite conditions. At the same time, she will feel and look much better than when grown in flowerpots or terrariums. The flycatcher is planted in pots with a depth of at least 20 cm and a width of at least 30 cm. For planting, a peat and peat-sand mixture is used, on top of which it is desirable to lay a layer of moss so that the peat does not wash out during rains and thunderstorms. You need to make sure that the plants do not dry out and at the same time, you need to choose a well-lit place. When the flycatcher grows on fresh air, she can feed herself, and will delight you with excellent results. Being constantly in the fresh air, with natural lighting, it will bloom in time, and go to winter rest. If the winter in your area is not very cold, the Flycatcher can be left to winter outside, otherwise it is better for it to winter in a cold basement or refrigerator, as described earlier.

Here she is - a flycatcher:

Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that is part of the Rosyankovye family. She is the only representative of a kind of Dioneus. The plant's scientific name was probably given to him by mistake. From Latin, it translates as "mousetrap." In Russian, the flower is called venus in honor of the Roman Venus, the goddess of love and flowers. This plant is native to South America.

The Venus flytrap is listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Description, photo and distinguishing feature of the Venus flytrap

The Venus flytrap is a small herbaceous plant with a rosette of 4-7 leaves 4 to 7 cm long. Venus leaves grow from a short bulbous underground stem. Its flowers are small, shaped like a star, located at the ends of the stems. It blooms in early summer, and its total life expectancy is about 7 years. The formation of long leaves-traps occurs after flowering. Traps consist of two opposite petals with spikes on the edges. The outer part of them is painted bright green, the inner reddish.

Trap closing mechanism

The main feature of this plant are the leaves-traps. In nature, they are located close enough to the ground, so insects are easily caught in them. Inside each trap there are small hairs, they act as sensors.

A one-time touch on the antennae will not give any consequences. This is necessary in order to avoid "idle" slamming due to falling raindrops or branches on the traps. But when an insect touches two different hairs, the trap instantly closes. This happens very quickly, in 0.1 seconds. There is no exact description of how the trap works, but scientists believe that it is associated with the instantaneous transfer of water between plant cells.

After the trap is closed, the venus begins to secrete digestive enzymes and dissolves its prey within two weeks. After that, the trap is ready to search for a new victim. For your life cycle each trap can catch up to 7 insects.

Rules for caring for a venus flytrap at home

Place your Venus flytrap out of direct sunlight.

AT natural environment The Venus flytrap can be found in southeastern Northern California as well as in northeastern Carolina. It grows in open, sunny, moist meadows or swamps. Venus prefers swamps with peat and sandy soil. It can grow at home, but for this it is necessary to create conditions for it as close as possible to its natural habitat.

Location, lighting and optimum temperature

Venus flytrap is a photophilous plant. She needs at least 4-5 hours of light per day. The best location for it would be the western and eastern windows. You can also place it in the south, but you should be careful not to get direct sunlight through the glass on the Venus flytrap. They can be detrimental to the plant. Therefore, if it is impossible to avoid placement on south windows, then in the daytime summer hours it is better to remove the plant deep into the room or shade directly on the window. When located on the northern windows, Venus will not have enough light, in which case artificial lighting can help.

As for the temperature, then Venus is quite hardy. In winter, it can be kept in bright rooms with a temperature of about 5-10 degrees, but if necessary, it will withstand lower temperatures. From spring to late autumn, it can be kept outdoors, for example, on a balcony or in a garden.

Air humidity and watering

Important - do not let the soil dry out

During the growth period (from spring to autumn), venus needs abundant watering. Don't let the soil dry out. You can even place a pot of venus in a 1-2 cm pan of water. Water it with distilled or filtered water at room temperature. During the winter dormancy, venus in cool rooms are watered infrequently.

For a comfortable existence of the Venus flytrap, the humidity must be maintained at 70%. To do this, you can constantly spray the venus or grow it in a terrarium.

Soil and fertilizer

The Venus flytrap prefers moist, poor and acidic soil, as its natural habitat is the Carolina swamps. Such soil can be achieved by mixing sphagnum moss and perlite in equal parts. It is impossible to use universal soil for venus, it will simply die in it.

The flycatcher does not need fertilizing. There is also no special need for feeding it with insects, since the plant receives food from photosynthesis. But, if you have a desire to do this, and your plant is healthy, then you need to follow a few rules:

The trap will only close if the trapped insect moves. Therefore, remember that it is necessary to feed the Venus only with live insects.
You can not feed a Venus with specific food. Flies or mealy worms, or any small arthropods, are suitable for food. In no case do not feed the flycatcher with ordinary food, as it will not be able to digest it and will die.
Venus should be fed no more than 2 times a month.
You can feed only 1-2 traps.

You can not feed a Venus if:

not weak or sick;
experienced stress, for example, in the form of sunburn;
is in a period of rest;
was recently transplanted.

Transplantation and reproduction of the Venus flytrap

The Venus flytrap propagates by cuttings, seeds and bulbs.

Transplantation must be carried out every 2-3 years. It is best to do this in the spring, when the venus begins to grow. For more successful acclimatization the day before the transplant, you can treat the venus with Epin (2-3 drops of solution per 200 g of water). Prepare a special substrate for transplanting. If it is possible to check the acidity of the soil, then keep in mind that it should be at the level of 3.5-4.5 pH.

When transplanting, an earthen lump must be carefully removed from the pot, the bulb should be separated from the ground. Try not to touch the traps when transplanting. Deepen the Venus flytrap in the new pot so that the substrate covers all the whitish spots on the bulb. After transplantation, it will be optimal to place the pot in a tray and treat it again with Epin.

The main breeding options for Venus flytrap are: seeds, cuttings and bulbs.

Reproduction by cuttings

On an adult plant, several points of growth can be seen. This is the breeding material. Cuttings are cut at the base of the leaf and transplanted into the soil. Cover with foil to create greenhouse effect Need to constantly support warm temperature within 25 degrees and high humidity. It is best to sprinkle the cut points of the plant with crushed coal in order to avoid decay.

Reproduction by seeds

Seeds are sown in early autumn. Pure peat is suitable as soil. They are laid out on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with sifted peat. It is necessary to create a small greenhouse for seeds with heating and lighting. It is better to water through the pan, the soil should be constantly wet. Approximately one month later, proper care seeds should germinate. With the onset of spring, the flycatcher must be gradually weaned from the sweat of the greenhouse, at the same time a dive is made. Produce it carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Reproduction by bulbs

Over time, venus forms daughter bulbs. They need to be cut sharp knife and transplant. It is necessary to ensure that the cut off bulbs have well-developed roots. The cut points of the mother plant must be treated with crushed charcoal to avoid rotting.

Diseases, pests and possible problems when growing

This is due to hard water.

Like all insectivores, Venus is rarely affected by pests. Occasionally it can be attacked by spider mites and aphids. With excessive moisture, the flower can hit gray rot or black soot fungus. In this case, venus can be treated with a fungicide.

Possible growing problems:

Leaves turn yellow but do not fall off. Most likely, there is an excess of calcium in the soil or you are watering the venus with too hard water;
leaves turn yellow and fall off. This is a consequence of insufficient watering and overdrying of the soil.
brown spots appeared on the tips of the leaves. This is a sign of overfertilization of the plant due to high doses or too frequent use. Also spots can be caused by sunburn;

Watch a short excerpt from the Venus flytrap broadcast.

One of the most exotic indoor plants is the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), which is also known as Dionea. This decorative flower interesting in that it is carnivorous - it feeds on living insects. An adult plant has an original appearance, however, even with its small size, it looks somewhat aggressive. A fly-eater can also be grown at home, but it is worth remembering that it is finicky, capricious and requires a lot of attention.

What is a Venus flytrap

Discovered in 1760, the flower was named after Greek goddess love - Dione. Dionaea muscipula is not large sizes herbaceous plant, monotypic genus of the Rosyankovye family. The name of the species "muscipula" is translated as "mousetrap" - probably, the botanist who described the new specimen made a mistake. The English name Dionaea muscipula corresponds to the Russian one - Venus flytrap - Venus flytrap.

What Dionea looks like - photo

Description

An adult herbaceous insectivorous plant of the sundew family has a rosette of 4-7 leaves 4-7 centimeters long. The stem of the flycatcher is bulbous, does not exceed 15 cm in length. Dionea blooms with white flowers, which are collected in corymbose inflorescences on a long peduncle, and in appearance resemble a star. In nature, a predatory flower grows on soils with a low nitrogen content, so mollusks and insects serve as the source of this element for it.

The trap leaves of the flycatcher are formed after flowering, they consist of two collapsing petals 8-15 cm long and have sparse bristles along the edges. The outer part of the leaves is painted in a bright green color, the inner cavities have a reddish tint. Traps are formed at the end of leaves collected in rosettes - by the summer they become longer and take a vertical position. Inside the flaps of the traps there are glands that produce nectar to attract prey.

In addition to the bristles on the edges of the flapping petals, there are three triggers - when an insect hits them, the trap begins to close, and the glands produce a digestive secret. The predatory flower digests food for 5-12 days, after which the petals open again. The duration of digestion depends on the air temperature, on the type of digestion, on the size of the prey and on the age of the trap itself. The trap dies after digesting two or three victims, however, there have been cases when one leaf became the grave of seven insects.

Where does the Venus flytrap live?

The homeland of the herbaceous flower is the peat bogs of South and North Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey, and it does not lose its ability to live even during cold weather or after snowfall: in winter, the plant enters a phase of complete rest, which ends when warming comes. The flycatcher flower is the only specimen of its kind, but today exotic and thrill-seekers also breed cultivars at home.

What does it eat

A specimen of the flycatcher, found in the swamps of North or South Carolina, feeds on insects. Dionea peat, growing in its natural environment, is close to the ground, so flying or crawling "food" itself falls into traps. The plant, bred at home, will need to be fed by you. Live flies or any arthropods that are half the size of the trap are suitable for this.

How the trap slamming mechanism works

Home distinctive feature flowers are leaf-traps. Inside each such trap there are small hairs that act as sensors. A one-time impact on the hair will not provoke the closure of the petals. This helps Dionea avoid "idle" slams that can occur due to twigs or raindrops hitting the surface.

The petals close instantly when the insect touches two or three different hairs. What exactly is the mechanism of the trap, no one can say, but scientists read that the closure occurs due to the instantaneous transfer of water between the cells of the flower. After the petals snap, the Venus flytrap releases digestive enzymes and dissolves the insect. Two weeks later, the trap is ready to search for prey again. During the life cycle, each trap can digest up to 7 victims.

Venus flytrap - home care

A predator plant is very popular among flower growers, because it is quite possible to grow it at home or in the garden. Many are interested in how to care for a flycatcher at home, because a carnivorous flower is capricious. For normal growth and development, Dionea needs to be provided with conditions similar to natural ones: maintain high humidity, the required temperature, water in a timely manner and periodically feed it with caught insects.

How to choose the best place to grow

The best place for the Venus flytrap is the windowsills of windows oriented to the west or east - so the flower will be in good light for the required amount of time - about 4-5 hours / day. hot summer weather it is necessary to avoid hit on a plant of scorching beams of the sun. If there is not enough light, make the flower artificial lighting using fluorescent lamps power from 40 watts. Remember that you cannot rotate the pot with Dionea or change the location of the lamp, as she reacts negatively to this.

Optimum air temperature and humidity

During active life, the air temperature in the room where the sundew grows must be maintained constantly within 22-27 degrees. Venus endures more high temperature, but it should not be higher than 35 degrees. Keep an eye on the humidity level: the range can be 40-70%. In addition, keep in mind that the flycatcher cannot grow normally in stagnant air - the room will need to be regularly ventilated, but there should be no drafts.

Watering Dionea

The roots of the fly-eater are not able to process earth mineral salts, so neither filtered water nor tap water can be used for irrigation. Only distilled, rain or purified by reverse osmosis is suitable. The substrate must be constantly moist, as traps may die due to lack of water. To maintain optimal soil moisture, it is better to keep the flower pot on a pallet filled with such an amount of liquid that the drainage holes at the bottom of the dish sink into it - Dionea's roots themselves will make up for their need for water.

top dressing

When growing a plant that catches flies at home, it is important to provide it with conditions close to its natural habitat: for this, you first need to monitor the acidity of the soil in the pot. The desired concentration can be achieved by mixing equal parts perlite and sphagnum moss. Dionea does not require fertilizing with organo-mineral fertilizers, like other indoor flowers.

How to care for a Venus flytrap during flowering

Carnivorous plants bloom in May or June: corymbose inflorescences consisting of small flowers begin to grow on a high peduncle white color up to 1 cm in diameter. Flowering lasts for several weeks. If you don't want Dionea seeds by fall, you'll need to cut the flowers while they're still in bud, as blooming exhausts the flycatcher, preventing its traps from fully developing.

Wintering and rest period

In autumn, new leaves stop growing on the plant - it prepares for hibernation. To help Dionea enter winter dormancy, it is recommended to reduce watering to a minimum and no longer leave water in the pan. When the flycatcher hibernates, the pot with it must be moved to a dark place where the temperature does not exceed 7-10 degrees. You can take the flower to the glazed balcony or even put it in the refrigerator.

Until the onset of spring, the predator plant does not require any nutrition or special lighting. The only thing that will be required of you is to occasionally water the soil, but you should not overdo it here either, because an excessive amount of moisture will lead to rotting of the roots. Flytrap that fell into hibernation, does not look attractive - having acquired a brown tint, its leaves die off.

How to feed a Venus flytrap at home

It is necessary to know all the intricacies of flytrap nutrition, if you decide to buy a Venus for breeding at home. The plant can be fed with insects: flies, spiders and bees, but only alive, because the production of a digestive enzyme occurs only during the movement of the victim. In summer, an adult flower growing in a room needs to eat 2-3 victims. Those flowers that grow on the street can not be fed at all - they are able to catch insects on their own. Remember that too tough food or meat provokes rotting of the trap.

How does a plant reproduce

flycatcher breeds different ways- cuttings, seeds or dividing the bulb. Obtaining Dionea seeds is the longest and most difficult process. During growth, bulbs appear at the flower - they are cut and transplanted. Cuttings can also be cut and planted in the soil, after which you need to cover the pot with peduncles with a film. The flyeater breeds while maintaining a certain temperature (no more than 25 degrees) and ensuring optimal humidity.

Growing Dionea from seeds

To get sundew seeds, you must independently pollinate its flowers using a cotton swab or brush. If the process was carried out correctly, then in a month small boxes with seeds will appear. They need to be sown three months after pollination, otherwise germination is then lost. If the seeds were stored longer, then before planting, you need to stratify - hold for a month and a half in the refrigerator, after wrapping it with sphagnum and corking it in a bag with a zipper.

When planting, scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil and spray with soft water using a spray bottle. Remember to follow the requirements for crop placement - place the containers in the greenhouse under bright diffused sunlight or artificial light. Keep the temperature in the room around 24-29 degrees, make sure that the soil is always wet. You will see shoots in 2-3 weeks. After another 2-3 weeks, when the Venus flytrap seedlings grow up, you can place the flower in a pot, the diameter of which does not exceed 8-9 cm.

Reproduction by cuttings

From Dionea, it is necessary to carefully cut off one leaf, process the cut with Kornevin. Having placed the cutting at an angle, plant it in a substrate of peat and quartz sand. After that, you can cover the container with a transparent cap and leave it at room temperature under bright light until the cuttings have a shoot - this often happens after three months. Remember that rooting is not recommended, otherwise the cuttings may be affected by fungi.

By dividing the bush

It is much easier to propagate the flycatcher in this way. It is best to do this during the transplantation of Dionea: a flower aged 1-2 years is removed from the pot, then the roots are freed from the soil and, with the help of a sterile tool, the daughter rosettes are separated from the adult plant. After that, the sockets are seated in separate pots, removed in partial shade before they take root in the new substrate.

Diseases and pests

Who would have thought that a plant that can eat insects can also suffer from them. There were cases when aphids started up on the surfaces of the traps, because of which they were deformed. Special insecticides are sold against small insects. Another predatory flycatcher flower can be affected by a spider mite: treatment with an acaricide solution will help to destroy the pest.

Dionea needs special care: where she grows, it is necessary to maintain optimal humidity air and temperature regime. However, if the soil is too wet, the flower may suffer from soot fungus - a black coating will appear on the leaves and stems. Fungicides will help fight it. If the conditions of detention are not observed, the flycatcher is attacked by botrytis - a gray fluff of mold. If you notice the appearance of such a mold, immediately remove the affected parts, and treat the plant itself with a fungicide solution.

The bactericidal defeat of Dionea can also occur due to the fact that the trap cannot cope with the digestion of the caught insect. In such cases, closed petals turn black and rot, and the disease quickly spreads throughout the plant. You need to immediately cut off the damaged trap, and then treat the flower with a fungicide solution.

Video

The Venus flytrap is an unusual plant that grows in the swamps of the eastern United States. It looks like an ordinary flower on a long stem, but it has one interesting feature. He is a predator. The Venus flytrap is engaged in catching and digesting various insects.

What does a predator flower look like?

Outwardly, this is not a particularly noticeable plant, one might say, grass. Most big size, which ordinary leaves can have, is only 7 centimeters. True, there are also large leaves on the stem that appear after flowering.

The inflorescence of the Venus flytrap is somewhat similar to the flowers of the common bird cherry. It's the same white delicate flower, with many petals and yellow stamens. It is placed on a long stem, which grows to such sizes for a reason. The flower is deliberately placed at a great distance from the trap leaves so that pollinating insects do not get into them.

The Venus flytrap grows in swampy areas. The soil here does not differ much nutrients. There is especially little nitrogen in it, namely, it is necessary for the normal growth of most plants, including the flycatcher. The process of evolution went in such a way that the flower began to take its nourishment not from the soil, but from insects. He has formed a cunning trapping apparatus that instantly closes a suitable victim in itself.

How does this happen?

Leaves intended for catching insects consist of two parts. On the edge of each part there are strong hairs. Another type of hairs, small and thin, densely covers the entire surface of the leaf. They are the most accurate "sensors" that register the contact of the sheet with something.

The trap works by very quickly closing the halves of the sheet and forming a closed cavity inside. This process is launched according to a strict and intricate algorithm. Observations on venus flytraps have shown that leaf slamming occurs after exposure to at least two different hairs, and with an interval of no more than two seconds. Thus, the flower is protected from false positives when falling on the leaf, for example, raindrops.

If an insect lands on a leaf, it inevitably stimulates different hairs and the leaf closes. This happens at such a speed that even fast and sharp insects do not have time to escape.

Then there is another protection: if no one moves inside and the signal hairs are not stimulated, the process of generating digestive enzymes does not start and after a while the trap opens. However, in life, an insect, trying to get out, affects the "sensors" and the "digestive juice" slowly begins to flow into the trap.

Digestion of prey by the Venus flytrap is a lengthy process and takes up to 10 days. After opening the leaf, only an empty shell of chitin remains in it. This substance, which is part of the structure of many insects, is not able to digest a flower.

What does the Venus flytrap eat?

The diet of the flower is very diverse. This includes almost all insects that can somehow get on the leaf. The only exceptions are very large and strong views. The Venus flytrap "eats" flies, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers and even slugs.

Scientists have identified a certain percentage in the flower menu. So, for example, a predatory plant consumes 5% of flying insects, 10% of beetles, 10% of grasshoppers, 30% of spiders. But most often, the Venus flytrap feasts on ants. They occupy 33% of total digested living creatures.

Charles Darwin called this plant "one of the most amazing plants in the world". This is the most famous carnivorous plant, which has become the prototype for many monsters in the cinema. In this article we will talk about Diane flycatcher or Venus flytrap!

Why is this plant so called?

It was named after the ancient Roman goddess of love and temptation. The plant attracts insects with its smell, and as soon as they sit on its petals, it immediately slams them shut, trapping the victim in a trap.

Where does the Venus flytrap grow?

In nature, the plant grows in a small area, in a zone in nature only for 1100 km that extends along the coast of North and South Carolina.

Why does a plant eat insects?

As mentioned above, Dianea flycatcher grows in very wet bogs, and cannot get enough nutrients from the soil. This means that we need another source of substances necessary for life. Thus, the plant extracts them with roots from the earth, and with petals from insects.

How does the flytrap mechanism work?

In order to attract the victim (usually caterpillars, black ants), Dianea exudes the smell of nectar that is seductive for the insect.

As soon as the fly falls on the petals, it touches sensitive hairs. But she still has a chance to escape until she disturbs the hairs a second time. This is provided in case a grain of sand or other rubbish accidentally gets into the trap, because having slammed shut once, the petals will be able to open only the next day.

The weight of the victim determines how quickly the trap closes.

At Harvard University, they figured out the exact algorithm for working with a petal of a Venus flytrap. Initially, its sheets are in a position turned outward, if you press in the center, they will quickly close, arching inward. To prevent the insect from escaping, there is a lot of water between the cells of the leaf, which is able to perfectly contain the vibrations coming from the victim.

The flytrap is able to close at a speed exceeding the blinking speed of the human eye!

If the insect is small, it will have a second chance to avoid death: to crawl between the hairs, as between the bars of a lattice, until the plant has closed the doors tightly. But if it hits a spike inside the leaf, the petals will close very tightly.

The more the victim twitches, the tighter the doors close.

But in this way one trap is able to digest only 3-4 insects, then it turns black and dies. While the plant is "resting", a new one grows and the process repeats again.

How to grow a flycatcher at home?

Despite the fact that in nature it can only be found in a very small area, the flycatcher is very popular as a houseplant.

This is a very capricious plant that requires an appropriate approach and care, but if everything is done correctly, it is quite capable of standing on the windowsill of your apartment for up to 20 years and delighting its owners with the contemplation of its unusual abilities.

It is best to plant Dionea in an aquarium - it is much easier to maintain the humidity necessary for the Venus flytrap in it. In the shade, as well as under direct sunlight, this plant quickly withers and dies, so you need to put it on a window located on the east side.

In spite of scary name, the killer plant itself is extremely fragile, so even if you touch her trap a little, it will soon turn yellow and fall off. It is desirable that absolutely no one touches the Venus flytrap. Another danger to the plant is running water. If you water Dionea with unfiltered water, its petals quickly turn yellow and die. Therefore, it is best to water it with distilled or rain water.

The Venus flytrap goes dormant in winter. This period lasts from 2 to 5 months, and optimum temperature for her at this time - from 5C to 7C. During this period, the plant is greatly reduced in size, and it seems that it has died, as all the leaves turn brown and die. Thanks to "hibernation" the plant has the opportunity to live as long as possible and successfully continue its life.