The venus flytrap is remarkably small. Its body could easily be squashed by the palm of a hand, and its leaves are rarely bigger than a quarter. But churning inside that petite plant is a rare process that still amazes the scientists who have studied it. To supplement its diet in low-nutrient soil, the flytrap goes on the offensive to gobble up prey. In a bait-and-switch ploy, the flytrap first shows off its colors, flashing its iguana green shell. Its leaves blush a deep red and the plant secretes a nectar to attract its prey. Insects drawn into the trap approach curiosity. Eventually, if the bug finds its way into the leaves, it may brush against a hair trigger: The plant responds in an instant, with its leaves snapping shut and trapping its surprised catch in a small stomach edged with teeth to prevent escape, where it digests the meal with the help of enzymes. ...
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