DI'ON,. 'A (Lat., fem. of Diontuus, pertainima to mom., ...1/45V77. Pi6/1.', name of Venn:). A most remarkable insert-cab:him: plant belonging to the order Droseraccab. The single species, Diontra usri pub( 1(( popularly known as Venus's thy-trap because of the peculiarly trap like catehirt organ d-veloped at the summits of its leaves. This plant is a ,mall. relatively Mem spienons, perennial herb, growing native in bogs in North and South Carolina, mid beeanse of its interesting habits kept in greenhouses. From the midst of the circlet of root leaves arises a slender soap. ten to twelve inches in height, at the summit of Mile', is a eyme of small white flowers. The leaf is divided into two parts, a lower, simple, ,patulate portion, above which, and separated by a narrow restriction, is the tly-trap. This organ forms the bibbed upper portion of the leaf. each lobe of which is reniform, with the edge provided with spiny bristles. The lobes hinge upon the midrib and have upon their inner surfaces a few extremely sensitive hairs.
%%hen these hairs are irritated by an insect the lobes, under favorable conditions of temperature, suddenly close, the marginal spines catching the insect after the manner of a steel trap. If the insect is caught the trap remains (dosed and, by means of secretions from the glandular inner sur face of the lobes, the .oft parts of the insect are digested and elaborated as food for the plant. After digestion and absorption, which may oc cupy two or three weeks, have been completed the trap opens and only the ehitinons skeleton of the insect remains. If the insect is not caught the trap opens within an hour or so and is ready for the next trespasser. A single leaf scents to be capable of digesting only a few in sects. after which its vigor diminishes; it re sponds less actively to excitation of the glandu lar surface and soon dries up or decays. Consult Darwin, Insectirorous Plants (New York. 1892).