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Project Noah Nature School
Dionaea muscipula
Carnivorous plant that consumes small insects (mostly ants). It grows close to the ground in nitrogen poor soil. Since the plant is unable to draw many nutrients from the soil, it must consume the insects. Only ~5% of its diet are flys. Each trap will open/close 3-5 times before it dies and withers away. A new trap will grow and replace it. The Venus Flytrap depends on forest fires to survive. These fires reduce competing plants. The flytraps usually grow back faster than other plants and they get a head start.
The Venus Flytrap grows naturally in nitrogen poor/moist soil near Wilmington, North Carolina (~70 mile radius). It can be found at Carolina Beach State Park (Venus Fly Trap Trail 400 meter hike in length) and Green Swap ( 2-3 mile hike) Both parks are free to enter and Carolina Beach Park will often give free tours with a ranger on Carnivorous plants. The best time to see flytraps is late spring. The photos I added to this post were taken on 9/1/12. There has been evidence of flytraps growing as far north as N.J., but those plants have been transplanted and introduced to the area. I visited Green Swap last month, but just after a controlled fire. I did see both yellow and purple pitcher plants, but no flytraps. Green Swap is a perfect setting to see flytraps and can't wait to visit again in May. If you visit Green Swamp the parking lot is very small and made of dirt. It is extremely easy to miss. It is right next to the pond about 5 miles North of the city of Supply. If heading North on 211 you will see a small blue road sign for parking. The lot is right after the sign (on the right). When I first visited the park I missed the lot twice (and I was also using GPS images on my phone). Be prepared to turn around a couple times. You can see the parking lot with Google Earth ( just look for the pond along the highway) When you visit Green Swamp make sure to stay on the main trail. It will be a two lane dirt car path for 400 meters, then taper down to one lane as you walk down the hill to the swamp area. Many people have ventured off the main path damaging the plant life. During the right time of year you will see flytraps along the trail. Poaching flytraps is a major issue at these parks. I'm not sure why, because you can buy farm grown traps at any plant store for about $5 bucks. If you see any suspicious activity, call the park and let them know.
Spotted on May 5, 2013
Submitted on Sep 1, 2012
2 Comments
A forest ranger took me to a small area in Carolina Beach State Park where 3 or 4 were growing. I searched for a couple hours near the same area a week earlier and missed them. I went to Green Swamp last week as well, but the swamp recently had a controlled fire and I didn't see any. From what I hear Green Swap is the best spot to see a lot (mainly during May and June). Poaching can be a problem. Green Swap had about 200 stolen at one time last year. I don't think Carolina Beach Park has much of a problem because the park is small and a lot more people are on the trails. But Green Swamp is hidden and more likely to attract poachers.
Oh neat! You found them.One day, I hope to do the same. Well many poachers take a lot of the fly traps and sell them. Where they quite abundant there?