Venus flytrap: The smart plant
Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that uses ingenious techniques to trap insects (as the name suggests). The structure and working of the plant are so intricate that there is still much left to discover. Keep reading to learn some of the complex patterns the plant adopts.
written by suhanee verma
The Venus flytrap can be very particular when it comes to trapping its prey. It has tiny hair on the inner surface, also known as trigger hairs or sensitive hairs. These hairs play an integral role in developing *action potential and sending a signal to the leaves to close shut. In detail, when an insect crawls on the inner surface of the plant, it comes in contact with one trigger hair. This stimulation releases sodium ions into the hair cell to develop the first action potential that prepares the leaves. If the same insect touches a second hair approximately within 20 seconds, it stimulates the release of more sodium ions and the second action potential. The trap then shuts in a matter of 100ms after the trigger, trapping its prey. This process is to conserve the plant's energy against trapping other objects that have no nutritional value.
In addition, the Venus flytrap is one of the examples of a plant that shows signs of memory. When the first trigger hair is touched, the plant remembers it for a few seconds. If a second hair is triggered in the same time frame- the trap closes. Otherwise, the memory is lost. Once trapped, the plant counts up to 5 before releasing digestive enzymes.
After studies, scientists have assumed that when the trap initially closes, it doesn't shut all the way to allow smaller insects to escape since they wouldn't provide sufficient nutrition. If a stone or a nut is trapped, the plant 'spits' it out after 12 hours.
The plant may not have a nervous system, but it relies heavily on electrical signals. The action potentials generate electrical signals among cells. As the signal travels to the outmost layer, it forms specialized pores. This forces the water from the cells on the inside to travel to the cells on the outside. The subsequent change in cell pressure snaps the leaves shut. Venus flytrap has been a wonder for many years yet we still don't fully comprehend how the plant moves, stores memory, and eats without having a nervous system, muscles, or stomach.
*Action potential -An action potential is a way for cells to send information to one another in the form of an electrical signal. It occurs when positively charged ions, such as sodium, enter a cell and cause the electrical environment of the cell membrane to change until it reaches a certain threshold.
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