How Venus flytraps hunt

Chapter 1

The Carolina home

View / Create

Answer

Chapter 2

The trigger mechanism

View / Create

Answer

Chapter 3

The snap and digest

View / Create

Answer

Chapter 4

Global meat-eating cousins

View / Create

Answer

YOUR GOAL

Master of How Venus flytraps hunt

Ch 2 · The trigger mechanism

teacher

Tickle, Tickle, Snap!

teacher Tickle, Tickle, Snap!

teacher

teacher The double-touch rule

teacher

teacher Plant action potentials

teacher

teacher The sensitive trigger hairs

teacher

teacher Counting the steps

teacher

teacher Touch me once, I wait—(oh-oh!) / Touch me twice, I snap! (yeah, I snap!)

teacher

Plant action potentials

teacher Plant action potentials

teacher

Fun Fact

Fast electricity: The electrical signal that travels through a Venus flytrap leaf moves at about ten centimeters per second.

teacher

The double-touch rule

teacher The double-touch rule

teacher

Glossary

trigger hair (noun)
A sensitive, hair-like projection on an organism that initiates a physiological response when physically stimulated. In 1875, Charles Darwin discovered that these structures in Venus flytraps initiate leaf closure.

teacher

Quiz

Which chemical ion does the Venus flytrap use to remember the first touch?

teacher

Gossip

Would you gently touch a trigger hair?

teacher

Quiz

How many trigger hair touches within 20 seconds are needed to close the trap?

teacher

Quiz

What is the main purpose of the Venus flytrap counting insect struggles?

teacher

Quiz

How many trigger hairs are typically found on each lobe of a Venus flytrap?

teacher

Quiz

How many total trigger hair touches are needed to start digestive enzyme production?

teacher

Quiz

Why does the Venus flytrap use a double-touch mechanism to close?

teacher

Quiz

What kind of signal travels through the Venus flytrap leaf after a touch?

teacher

Quiz

What happens if a Venus flytrap trigger hair is touched only once?