The nature of the stimuli causing digestive juice secretion in Dionaea muscipula Ellis (venus's flytrap)

An investigation into the stimuli of the secretory system in the carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula is presented. Secretion of fluid and protein are both stimulated by various nitrogenous small molecules. These secretions are studied as a function of time. A new method is described for the collection of secreted juice. Significant differences are found between the quantities of fluid and protein produced in response to different stimuli. The results are discussed in comparison to the mammalian gastro-intestinal secretory systems.