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Venus Flytrap Facts — Reading Comprehension

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MS-LS1-4
RI.6.3
RI.7.3
RI.8.8

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This passage explains where Venus flytraps live in North Carolina bogs, how their snap traps work, and their unique way of reproducing through flowers and rhizomes. Includes 8 MCQs about their habitat and biology.

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"Venus Fly Trap (VFT; Dionaea muscipula)" / Wikimedia Commons.

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is one of the world's most fascinating carnivorous plants, famous for its lightning-fast traps that snap shut on unsuspecting prey.

Habitat: Where Do Venus Flytraps Live?

Venus flytraps grow only in a tiny region of the United States:

● Coastal North and South Carolina (within 100 miles of Wilmington, Nc)

● Boggy Areas with nutrient-poor, acidic soil

● Sunny, Wet Locations that receive plenty of rainfall

Their limited native range makes them vulnerable to habitat loss.

Venus Flytrap Facts

Trap Mechanism:

○ Traps snap shut in 0.1 seconds when trigger hairs are touched twice

○ Uses digestive enzymes to dissolve prey (mostly insects and spiders)

○ Each trap can only open and close 4-5 times before dying

Energy Efficiency:

○ Photosynthesizes like other plants but gets nutrients from prey

○ Goes dormant in winter to conserve energy

Size:

○ Typically grows 5-6 traps at a time

○ Each trap measures 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches)

Reproduction: How Does a Venus Flytrap Reproduce?

Venus flytraps use two methods to multiply:

1. Sexual Reproduction (Flowers & Seeds)

● Produces white flowers on tall stalks in spring

● Requires pollination by insects (avoiding self-pollination)

● Each flower makes 20-30 tiny black seeds

2. Asexual Reproduction (Rhizomes)

● Underground stems grow new plants identical to the parent

● Allows colonies to form slowly over years

Fun Fact: The traps glow blue under UV light to attract insects!

Where are Venus flytraps naturally found?

Florida swampsCarolinas' coastal bogsCalifornia desertsTexas grasslands

What triggers a trap to close?

SunlightTwo touches to trigger hairsWater dropletsWind vibration

How do Venus flytraps reproduce asexually?

By growing flowersThrough underground rhizomesBy dropping leavesVia airborne spores

Why do the traps glow blue?

To warn animalsTo attract insectsTo repel bacteriaTo reflect moonlight

How fast can a trap close?

1 second0.1 seconds5 minutes1 hour

What happens to traps after 4-5 closures?

They regrow strongerThey die and are replacedThey turn into flowersThey photosynthesize faster

What do Venus flytraps get from insects that they can’t get from soil?

WaterNutrients like nitrogenSunlightCarbon dioxide

When do they go dormant?

SummerWinterSpringFall

Perfect For:

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