The Venus flytrap snaps shut its leaves to trap insects and is native to North and South Carolina. Its scientific name is Dionaea muscipula.
Each trap is a modified leaf with two hinged lobes. Small trigger hairs on the inner surface respond to touch. When suitable stimulation occurs within a short period, the lobes close rapidly, trapping prey between interlocking marginal structures.
The plant grows in nutrient-poor, acidic wetlands. Insects provide minerals such as nitrogen that are scarce in its soil, but the Venus flytrap still obtains most of its energy through photosynthesis. Digestive enzymes break down prey after the trap closes.
A frequent misconception is that the plant reacts to any single touch by immediately digesting an insect. The trigger mechanism helps distinguish meaningful prey movement from random events, and each trap can open and close only a limited number of times before wearing out. The species is threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection.