Venus Fly Trap

Plant

This carnivorous plant attracts insects to its red coloured trap, which is actually a modified leaf. When the insect touches trigger hairs on the trap, it very quickly springs shut, trapping the insect. The trapped insect is then slowly digested. When the trap opens and resets, only the insect's external skeleton is left. The trigger hair must be touched in quick succession for the trap to be sprung. This prevents rain drops and falling debris to falsely spring the trap.

This North American plant grows in swamps that are poor in nutrients. It obtains supplemental nitrogen from ingested insects.

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Flower