Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...

Plant Hormones

Plant Hormones

Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.

Tonicity in Plants

Tonicity in Plants

Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water. It depends on the quantity of solute that does not penetrate the membrane. Tonicity delimits the magnitude and direction of osmosis and results in three possible scenarios that alter the volume of a cell: hypertonicity, hypotonicity, and isotonicity. Due to differences in structure and physiology, tonicity of plant cells is different from that of animal cells in some scenarios.

Plant Cell Wall

Plant Cell Wall

The plant cell wall gives plant cells shape, support, and protection. As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to the cell type. For example, the parenchyma cells of leaves possess only a thin, primary cell wall.

Plant Cells and Tissues

Plant Cells and Tissues

Plant tissues are collections of similar cells performing related functions. Different plant tissues will have their own specialized roles and can be combined with other tissues to form organs such as flowers, fruit, stem, and leaves. Two major types of plant tissue include meristematic and permanent tissue.

Seedless Vascular Plants

Seedless Vascular Plants

Seedless Vascular Plants Were the First Tall Plants on Earth

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cryo-EM structure enabling virtual screening for the discovery of highly potent TRPM3 antagonists with analgesic efficacy.

Neuron·2026

Same author

Munc13-1 couples DAG and Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling to dynamic vesicle priming, synaptic short-term plasticity, and posttetanic potentiation.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Under salt stress, quinoa stomatal guard cells control transpiration in an ABA-primed manner.

The New phytologist·2025

Same author

The power of ionic movements in plants.

The New phytologist·2025

Same author

SISE, free LabView-based software for ion flux measurements.

Plant methods·2025

Same author

Secondary structure transitions and dual PIP2 binding define cardiac KCNQ1-KCNE1 channel gating.

Cell research·2025

Same journal

Better breeding leveraging more biology.

Trends in plant science·2026

Same journal

Women in plant science around the world.

Trends in plant science·2026

Same journal

Bilateral symmetry genes: If they exist, how would we know?

Trends in plant science·2026

Same journal

From xylem atlases to developmental continuity in forestry.

Trends in plant science·2026

Same journal

Small peptides guard the gate of plant immunity.

Trends in plant science·2026

Same journal

Phosphorylation blues: Cracking the phototropin phosphocode.

Trends in plant science·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Published on: December 22, 2013

Venus Flytrap: How an Excitable, Carnivorous Plant Works.

Rainer Hedrich¹, Erwin Neher²

¹Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany.

Trends in Plant Science

|January 17, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea) uses a plant-based electrical network to rapidly capture prey. It counts prey stimuli to control trap closure, digestion, and nutrient uptake, showcasing unique animal-like carnivory.

More Related Videos

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies

Published on: November 8, 2013

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

Published on: August 4, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Published on: December 22, 2013

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies

Transmitting Plant Viruses Using Whiteflies

Published on: November 8, 2013

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

Published on: August 4, 2018

Area of Science:

Plant biology
Sensory biology
Evolutionary adaptations

Background:

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea) exhibits complex predatory behaviors.
Its trap closure mechanism involves rapid electrical signaling.
The plant's carnivory relies on a sequence of gene activation.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the Venus flytrap's "hunting cycle".
To understand how electrical signals control prey capture and digestion.
To investigate the genetic basis of Dionaea's animal-like predatory skills.

Main Methods:

Analysis of mechanoreceptor function and action potential generation.
Investigation of the electrical network coordinating trap closure.
Gene expression profiling during the 'hunting cycle'.

Main Results:

Dionaea utilizes mechanoreceptors and an electrical network for rapid prey capture.
A "counting" mechanism based on sensory stimulation dictates subsequent steps like digestion.
The plant achieves carnivory by repurposing existing plant genes, not acquiring new ones.

Conclusions:

Dionaea's predatory behavior is controlled by a sophisticated, plant-based electrical signaling system.
The plant exhibits remarkable "animal-like" decision-making through sensory input "counting".
Evolutionary modification of ubiquitous plant genes underlies the Venus flytrap's unique carnivorous adaptations.