Amazing nature- Interesting plants that are canivorous.

in #nature5 years ago

Hi Steemit family,

Land remains the most valuable asset to man and harbors both living and non living things. It thus serves as host to the natural factory of life and on it is found the amazing wonders of nature. All things found here are unique with diverse uses and functions. Nature is always amazing, so we need to protect for future generations.
Interestingly, plants also do have carnivorous species (exotic species) as well as do animals. Carnivorous plants can both be found in the water and on land.
Today we will approach the life of a very beautiful plant and is in the family of Droseraceae, with genius Dionaea. This plant is commonly called Venus flytrap (venus's flytrap or venus' flyptrap ). Dinaea muscipula (venus' flytrap) is a carnivorous plant which is native to subtropical wetlands around the East Coast of USA.
source.(www.wikipedia.com)

This plant catches its prey mostly insects and arachnids using a trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant's leaves, with the aid of tiny hairs on their inner surfaces. When insects or crawling objects along the leaves gets in contact with these hairs, the trap starts preparation to close, snapping shuts only and gently.

This normally happens within twenty seconds of the first strike and if the prey is unable to escape, it will thus continue to stimulate the inner surface of the lobes and this causes further growth response.

It further forces the edges of the lobes together and eventually sealing the trap hermetically and forming a stomach in which digestion occurs. Digestive enzymes here is controlled by a hormone known as jasmonic acid and when activated, digestion is catalyzed.
The plant hairs are so sensitive such that they ensure the trapping of insects that are nutritional avoiding waste of its energy.
Dionaea is a monotypic genus and is closely related to the waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa), sundews (Drosera) all of which belonging to the Droseraceae. The said plant is small in nature having about four to seven leaves which arises from a short stem that is actually like a bulb-like object.

The division of its leaves into two parts of flat, heart shape nature serves as a trap for prey, photosynthesis and is held together by the mid rib.

It's closing ability however can vary depending on the amounts of humidity, light, size of prey and general growing conditions. Furthermore, its speed of closeness can equally be used as an indicator of the plant's general health. The Venus' flytrap are thus not humidity - dependent as are some other carnivorous plants such as Nepenthes, Cephalotus, most Haliamphora and some Drosera.
However, with this found in the wetlands of subtropical regions, we need to protect our nature and environment in a sustainable manner as the these plants could be further researched upon so that they can be used for biological control in farms for insects that cause havoc on food crops instead of chemicals as there are plenty of different species.
Thanks for reading.

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