Dionaea muscipula

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, known as Dionaea muscipula, exhibits a specific and varied distribution across different regions of the United States. In the Northwestern U.S.A., it can be found as far west as Washington. Moving toward the Northeastern U.S.A., its presence is noted in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The species also extends to the Southwestern U.S.A., specifically within the state of California. Finally, its range reaches the Southeastern U.S.A. in Alabama.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dionaea muscipula is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, the species maintains its perennating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by the leaf litter or substrate during unfavorable conditions. This life form, specifically categorized under the hemicryptophyte classification, enables the plant to survive seasonal fluctuations and regrow from its underground structures once environmental conditions become suitable for its specialized physiological processes.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dionaea muscipula is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative parts. It is a self-supporting plant, functioning as a non-climber without the need for liana or vine-like support. In terms of its ecological positioning and substrate preference, the plant is strictly terrestrial rather than aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. Furthermore, it is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining its own physiological processes without relying on a host.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dionaea muscipula has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-Chloroplumbagin, Droserone, Plumbagin.

3-Chloroplumbagin

1. Dr. Duke

Droserone

1. Dr. Duke

Plumbagin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dionaea muscipula has 40 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Allelochemic, Antialopecic, Antibacterial, Anticoagulant.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antialopecic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticoagulant

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antifertility

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antihistoplasmotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiimplantation

1. Dr. Duke