CharlesDarwincalled this strange, rareplant"themostwonderfulplant
in the world." The Venus flytrapgrows with its light green leavesarranged
inrosettefashion. Each leaf has two sections whichoperateon a hinge. There
are thorn-like spines at the edges of these leaves.
The Venus flytrapis anInsect-eatingplant. We call it an insectivorous
plant. Itgrows wild in bogs. The specialtrapleaves have tiny sensitive hairs
lining the inside. They also giveforth("secrete")a stickyodoroussubstance
thatattractsinsects.
An insectunfortunateenoughto be lured to the plantlands on theleaf
andbegins to eat the stickysubstance. The tiny sensitive hairs act like triggers,
causingthe leaves to spring closed,trappingthe insect.
Poorinsect-itcannotescape. Graduallythe softpartsofits body are
digested by juices prepared and secreted by the leaf. The plantuses the
digested insect body or meat to buildprotoplasmfor cells and tissues.
Ifyou feed theplantchoppedmeat, it will react the same way as with the
insect, anddevoura hamburgerdinner.
Thepitcherplantand the sundewplantare two otherfascinatinginsect-
eatingplants. Theseplantsgrownaturallyin thetropics,where there isextreme
heat and anabundanceofmoisture.