ផ្សាយថ្ងៃទី 15 Jan 2025
(កាសែតឯករាជ្យជាតិ ផ្សាយតាមបណ្តាញសង្គម)
Venus flytrap It’s a clever carnivorous plant that lures insects into its dead chamber, traps them, eats them, and then expels them when it’s done. Sounds like the perfect houseplant.
The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant known for its ability to lure insects (and arachnids) into its “capturing organ.” Once inside, it can’t escape. The organ closes tightly and the digestive process begins. Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap’s real name, is native to small wetlands in North and South Carolina, however, humans have adopted it as a houseplant, and it is now grown in many other places.
This exotic plant is now considered endangered in the United States due to habitat destruction caused by land development and the creation of forest fire barriers. Recent efforts have aimed to protect the Venus flytrap from these threats, but the plants continue to be stolen from their natural habitat for illegal sale by "Venus flytraps poachers," although it is a crime in North Carolina and can result in prison sentences. .
Venus flytraps tend to live in nutrient-poor soil, which is why they rely on insects to help them survive. Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, flying insects, and even spiders are on this list!
Let’s delve a little deeper into how plants trap insects. It starts with plants releasing a variety of volatile organic compounds and scents into the air that attract insects. The hypothesis is that these volatile compounds may be the initial source of attraction and serve to draw insects closer to the plant. When insects approach one of the plant’s traps, found at the tip of each leaf, they are drawn inside by the sweet-smelling nectar secreted by the trap. The inside of the trap is covered in a red substance that may also play a role in inviting insects into the deadly chamber. When an insect enters, the sensory hairs are disturbed and an electrical signal known as an action potential is triggered. If two or more signals occur within 20-30 seconds, the trap will close in less than a second, although not completely. It takes more action potentials triggered by the struggling prey to turn the more sensitive hairs for a complete capture. Closing is aided by the detection of the insect’s secretions, such as uric acid, potassium ions, and sodium ions. This extra step ensures that it is an insect or arachnid rather than an inanimate object such as a raindrop or seed that is trapped in the trap.
After the plant detects that it has indeed captured its prey, specialized glands are activated and begin to secrete a mixture of acidic digestive juices to break down the victim into compounds that are useful to the plant. Chemicals containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are essential for plant growth, are there to supplement the nutrients available from the soil.
Once the Venus flytrap closes, it remains closed for 5 to 12 days while it eats its prey. When it is done, only the insect's skeleton remains. The trap opens, the skeleton is expelled, and the Venus flytrap is ready for its next meal. (The Independent National Newspaper publishes on social media for you to read for free. If you want to support our publication, please contact our ABA account, Khmer money number: 500 708 383, US dollar number: 003 662 119
(កាសែតឯករាជ្យជាតិ ផ្សាយតាមបណ្តាញសង្គម)
Venus flytrap It’s a clever carnivorous plant that lures insects into its dead chamber, traps them, eats them, and then expels them when it’s done. Sounds like the perfect houseplant.
The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant known for its ability to lure insects (and arachnids) into its “capturing organ.” Once inside, it can’t escape. The organ closes tightly and the digestive process begins. Dionaea muscipula, the Venus flytrap’s real name, is native to small wetlands in North and South Carolina, however, humans have adopted it as a houseplant, and it is now grown in many other places.
This exotic plant is now considered endangered in the United States due to habitat destruction caused by land development and the creation of forest fire barriers. Recent efforts have aimed to protect the Venus flytrap from these threats, but the plants continue to be stolen from their natural habitat for illegal sale by "Venus flytraps poachers," although it is a crime in North Carolina and can result in prison sentences. .
Venus flytraps tend to live in nutrient-poor soil, which is why they rely on insects to help them survive. Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, flying insects, and even spiders are on this list!
Let’s delve a little deeper into how plants trap insects. It starts with plants releasing a variety of volatile organic compounds and scents into the air that attract insects. The hypothesis is that these volatile compounds may be the initial source of attraction and serve to draw insects closer to the plant. When insects approach one of the plant’s traps, found at the tip of each leaf, they are drawn inside by the sweet-smelling nectar secreted by the trap. The inside of the trap is covered in a red substance that may also play a role in inviting insects into the deadly chamber. When an insect enters, the sensory hairs are disturbed and an electrical signal known as an action potential is triggered. If two or more signals occur within 20-30 seconds, the trap will close in less than a second, although not completely. It takes more action potentials triggered by the struggling prey to turn the more sensitive hairs for a complete capture. Closing is aided by the detection of the insect’s secretions, such as uric acid, potassium ions, and sodium ions. This extra step ensures that it is an insect or arachnid rather than an inanimate object such as a raindrop or seed that is trapped in the trap.
After the plant detects that it has indeed captured its prey, specialized glands are activated and begin to secrete a mixture of acidic digestive juices to break down the victim into compounds that are useful to the plant. Chemicals containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are essential for plant growth, are there to supplement the nutrients available from the soil.
Once the Venus flytrap closes, it remains closed for 5 to 12 days while it eats its prey. When it is done, only the insect's skeleton remains. The trap opens, the skeleton is expelled, and the Venus flytrap is ready for its next meal. (The Independent National Newspaper publishes on social media for you to read for free. If you want to support our publication, please contact our ABA account, Khmer money number: 500 708 383, US dollar number: 003 662 119
Insectivorous plants
Reviewed by សារព័ត៌មាន ឯករាជ្យជាតិ
on
6:00:00 AM
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Reviewed by សារព័ត៌មាន ឯករាជ្យជាតិ
on
6:00:00 AM
Rating:
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