(female narrator)
Let me tell you about
the birds and the bees,
the flowers and the trees,
and the predatory carnivorous
Venus flytrap, of course.
Seasonal Science
brings you "Venus Flytraps."
Head to your botanical garden
this spring
and you'll likely see
a small white flower
sprouting amid the intimidating
jaws of the Venus flytrap.
How does a carnivorous plant
avoid eating the insects
that pollinate it?
Scientists are asking
that question as well,
and although they don't yet know
all of the insects
that pollinate wild flytraps,
they have some ideas
of how it might happen.
First,
the Venus flytrap's flower
sits on a stalk
far above the trap,
and for a plant
whose meals include
many crawling insects,
flying pollinators
that stay in the higher altitude
have a decent chance
of avoiding the trap
and pollinating successfully.
Secondly,
the flowers may appeal
to a different set of insects
altogether.
For a plant that eats
carrion-seeking insects
that are attracted to
that meaty-colored interior,
pollinators that are attracted
to its flower
may think the traps
are unappealing.
The jury is still out,
but what scientists do know
is that beyond
sunlight, water,
and the occasional
mineral-rich morsel,
the Venus flytrap
blooms better after a good fire.
You heard that right.
Besides the ability
to survive a fire,
flytraps flower quite nicely
once all those taller,
shade-producing shrubs
are out of the picture.
But if you are in
the 74-mile habitat
in southeastern North Carolina
that is home to flytraps
and you find one,
don't pick the flower
or the plant.
Due to its status
as threatened,
poaching Venus flytraps
is a felony.
You could spend
up to 39 months in prison
and pay a hefty fine.
So, as springtime rolls around,
why not head
to the botanical gardens
and take some time to stop
and smell the Venus flytraps?
(Describer) Seasonal Science by Melissa Salpietra.
Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.
[man sniffs]
Mmm.
Accessibility provided by the
U.S. Department of Education.
