Venus! Must you be so snappy?

[blueerica]

How the Venus flytrap snaps up its prey (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1540&ncid=1540&e=9&u=/afp/20050126/sc_afp/sciencespeciesflytrap_050126193132)

PARIS (AFP) - American and French scientists believed they have explained how one of nature's marvels, the Venus flytrap, snaps shut to snare its victims.

The plant -- described by Charles Darwin as "one of the most wonderful in the world" -- is able to enclose a fly within its clamshell-shaped leaves in just 100 milliseconds, faster than the eye can blink.

I've always been fascinated by this plant... It's amazing how nature creates a function for the need!

[Angie]

I can't wait for my kids to grow older so I can get one of these marvels. I know I'll hate it once I own it awhile, but just to sit and watch it... Now to think of a name for it...

Yeah, I know, I'm weird. What else is new?

[Gemini Cricket]

I have a friend who grows all sorts of carnivorous plants. Venus flytraps are awesome. But kind hard to grow...
:)

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Very cool. I, too, love these snappy devils.

[MerryPrankster]

I love anything that kills a fly -- my vacuum cleaner, a fly swatter, the dog next door. But, alas, the the most amazing of all -- the Venus fly trap! It's a beautiful, beautiful thing. :cool:

[€uroMeinke]

Hmm this morning on NPR they did this feature (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4467935)on the Venus Fly Trap - must be it's day today

[Angie]

Well, you know what they say...

Every Trap Has It's Day.