The mechanical basis for snapping of the Venus flytrap, Darwin’s ‘most wonderful plant in the world’
J. T. Burri, E. Saikia, N. F. Laeubli, H. Vogler, F. K. Wittel, M. Rueggeberg, H. J. Herrmann, I. Burgert, B. J. Nelson, U. Grossniklaus
The paper develops an electromechanical model and uses microrobotics to show that one touch can generate two action potentials in Venus flytrap sensory hairs, suggesting it can catch prey with fewer stimuli than previously thought.
bioRxiv · Jul 10, 2019Plant Biology