dionaea

[dahy-uh-nee-uh]

noun

1. the Venus flytrap.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dionaea¹

< New Latin Dionaea (1773), the genus name < Greek Diōnaía, feminine of Diōnaîos pertaining to Diṓnē a metronymic name for Aphrodite; Dione

Example Sentences

From one species of Venus’ flytrap — there is only one species, Dionaea muscipula — breeders have gone to town, and Szesze’s Carnivorous Plant Nursery sells more than 30 varieties.

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The name, Dionaea muscipula, is derived from words meaning “the goddess of love” and “mousetrap,” according to the conservancy.

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“The carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula, also known as Venus flytrap, can count how often it has been touched by an insect visiting its capture organ in order to trap and consume the animal prey,” said lead scientist Prof Rainer Hedrich, from the University of Wurzburg.

Read more on The Guardian

First discovered by a colonial governor of North Carolina in the 1700s, Dionaea muscipula was singled out by Charles Darwin as one of the world’s most magnificent plants.

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Every living cell in an active condition is irritable, and one of the commonest physiological reactions of growing tissues is that of responding to the touch of a resistant body, as is vividly shown by the movements of the Sensitive plant, Dionaea, etc., and by those of tendrils, growing root tips, etc., on careful observation.

Read more on Project Gutenberg