Dionaea
(from Dionaea, a surname of Venus, as the supposed daughter of Jupiter and Dione). ORD. Droseraceae. A dwarf, exceedingly interesting, herbaceous perennial. It thrives in a mixture of peat and living sphagnum. The pot containing it should be placed in a pan of water, and stood near the glass in the greenhouse, or even in a cold frame. Propagated by division of the plant, or sometimes by seed.
D. muscipula (fly-catcher).* Venus's Fly-trap. fl. white, in terminal corymbs. July and August. l. radical, on long footstalks, which are dilated at the top into a two-lobed irritable limb, beset with one row of long hairs on the margin, folding together, in the manner of the teeth of a trap. h. 3in. to 6in. Carolina and Florida, 1768. The seat of irritation resides in the three bristles which are placed in the centre of each lobe; on these being touched, movement immediately takes place. (B. M. 785.)