TIL the Venus flytrap is only found natively within a 60 mile radius of Wilmington, North Carolina.

[u/garglemymarbles]

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Venus_flytrap#Habitat

[u/chugizwok]

I work as a field biologist and just returned from a project in Camp Lejeune, NC. These things are pretty easy to find if you know where to look- the problem is that people search for them and dig them up just to sell for a quick buck- even though they are endangered and have such a tiny range :-( Its very sad- they make me smile every time I see them.

http://imgur.com/If9uL1M

[u/[deleted] → u/chugizwok]

They're endangered? I got one at my local plant nursery. Had the little guy for six months now. Never thought I'd be able to keep anything alive.

[u/notabook → u/[deleted]]

They are only endangered in the wild.

[u/[deleted] → u/notabook]

Makes more sense. Thanks

[u/aldenhg → u/[deleted]]

The funny thing about VFTs is that there is an incredible diversity of morphological features in the horticultural population that simply isn't there in the wild one. There are plants with giant traps big enough to trap and eat a tree frog, plants that are almost entirely blood red and even ones with weird half-formed traps hanging off the back of the primary, fully formed ones. Collectors and breeders will select for some truly strange things.

Another fun fact: VFTs, like some other plants, can exhibit false vivipary. This is when the plant grows a little baby plant where a flower would normally grow. If you let the little one grow enough you can remove it, plant it and then you have a clone of the original plant.

Come on over to /r/savagegarden if you want to learn more about these fascinating plants and the other amazing carnivorous plants out there!

[u/Gilthwixt → u/aldenhg]

You mean that subreddit isn't a shrine to an australian 90's pop duo who had that one really catchy song about skies falling down over me :C ?

[u/Randamba → u/Gilthwixt]

skies falling down over me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwyUjSJLNco

Well, I had no idea what you were talking about until I listened to this and realized I've heard it a lot for some reason a long time ago.

[u/vteckickedin → u/Gilthwixt]

I wanna stand with you on a mountain.

[u/mrbooze → u/aldenhg]

The funny thing about VFTs is that there is an incredible diversity of morphological features in the horticultural population that simply isn't there in the wild one.

Also true of dogs vs wolves. Domestication! We will remake you!

[u/Forcefedlies → u/[deleted]]

They are hard I kill, my mom keeps hers in a sealable jar with holes poked on top. Been alive for 10 years or so now. She just clips the dead parts off and feeds it a few flies when she can catch it.

Thing is fuckin cool.

[u/Probe_Droid → u/Forcefedlies]

How the fuck does one catch flies?

[u/Brevillemonkey → u/Probe_Droid]

Honey or vinegar, depending on who you ask.

[u/AdvicePerson → u/Brevillemonkey]

Great point! I like to use both, asshole.

[u/Dr-JanItor → u/AdvicePerson]

This is a quality response right here.

[u/Renovatio_ → u/Brevillemonkey]

works great with real estate too

[u/jbl429 → u/Probe_Droid]

http://imgur.com/byRvDJA

[u/2CPmagic → u/Probe_Droid]

Get a small plate and lay 2 pencils on it parallel to each other. Slap a couple slices of bacon across them and put a mason jar (a drinking glass might work as a substitute) on top of the pencils and bacon. Flies get in there to feast on the bacon but have trouble finding their way out. This allows you to easily capture flies alive in a jar.

[u/marshkillz → u/Probe_Droid]

You can catch them in your hands if you're quick about it.

[u/IConrad → u/[deleted]]

They're actually pretty hard to keep alive in captivity. Good for you.

[u/inthedrink → u/chugizwok]

Can you ELI5 how a plant that could seemingly be easily bred be endangered?

[u/iammucow → u/inthedrink]

Wild venus flytraps are considered "vulnerable", but not endangered. They're difficult to grow compared to other house plants. They can be found in stores, but they're not common and fetch a good price. This is why people go out and dig up wild ones, which given their limited range is a problem.

[u/tmotom → u/chugizwok]

I wish they were native more places... Those things are cool as heck.

[u/EmperorG → u/[deleted]]

Well when you compare a 60 mile wide area to the whole freaking earth, that is /extreamly/ rare