How does the Venus flytrap digest flies?

 How Does The Venus Flytrap Digest Flies?

The Venus Flytrap, one of the most famous and interesting plants in its kingdom, has a well-known tactic to "digest" flies for nutrients. This plant uses its leaves like bear traps to capture a fly and digest it for nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Its simple, yet clever way to capture its prey is that it has tiny hairs that when they sense that something is touching them, they make the leaves snap shut. It will then secrete a liquid on the inside that dissolves the soft parts of the prey, and kill all the bacteria and fungi that could be harmful to the plant. Then it breaks down the prey with enzymes and takes essential nutrients from the insect. Five-to-twelve days later, the leaves will reopen and release the leftovers. But beware, if the leaves close ten times without having an insect inside, that leaf will become useless for catching flies and will only work for photosynthesis.

·      Was the article you selected an example of discovery science or hypothesis based science? Explain

      This article is an example of discovery science because there was no actual theory into how the Venus Flytrap digests its food.

·      What importance does the research or findings have for humans?

      People can now know that the Venus Flytrap digests insects all the way through because of enzymes and that that process gives them nutrients necessary to live in their area.

       Author: Lissa Leege

       Title of Article: How Does The Venus Flytrap Digest Flies

       Journal:  Scientific American

       Date published: published August 19,2002