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Description: Venus' flytrap is a perennial carnivorous herb originating from a short rhizome. The leaves are in basal clusters and modified into traps at the ends, consiting of two hing-like sensitive lobes. Each hinge has stout, sharp bristles along the edge of the hinge with three trigger hairs by which causes the trap to close when touched. The majority of the upper surface of each lobe is covered with nectar producing and enzyme producing glands. From May to June a 1 to 3 dm leafless flower stalk is produced bearing a umbelliform-cymose flower cluster. Each white flower consists of 5 sepals and 5 petals each spatulate and approximately 12 mm in length. The stamens number 15 (10 to 20). The ovary is superior, 1-ocular with 1 style. The stigma contains numerous elongate papillae. After pollination, an ovid fruit (capsule) is produced containing numerous, tiny, black, obovoid seeds (Godfrey and Wooten 1981 and Porcher and Rayner 2001).
Habitat:
Venus' flytrap inhabits occasional wet, sandy ditches, longleaf pine savannas, pocosin ecotones, spahagnum openings, and bogs (Godfrey and Wooten, 1981 and Porcher and Rayner 2001). The species requires frequent natural fire cycles as well as an open understory in order to survive. The species continues to experience some collection from wild populations, however many botanists familiar with this species identify fire suppression and the loss of habitat as the largest threats to Venus' flytrap populations (NatureServe 2003).
Range:
The Venus' flytrap is a narrow endemic found in the coastal plain of North Carolina and South Carolina. In South Carolina it occurs in Horry and Georgetown counties. In North Carolina, the species may be found in Brunswick, Pender, Onslow, and other coastal counties. The species is considered to be an exotic in New Jersey and Florida (NatureServe 2003).
References
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