Re: Latin for Venus Flytrap

Peter Cole (carnivor@bunyip.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 30 Oct 1995 15:47:20 GMT

Clarke Brunt <clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk> writes:

> I just thought I'd say that 'muscipula' is no doubt derived from
> 'musca' (Latin 'fly', as in Musca, the stellar constellation of
> The Fly). Afraid I don't know what 'pula' is about in Latin.
> I used to think that 'muscipula' was something to do with the
> muscular nature of the traps, which it certainly isn't!

Well, it almost is. _muscipula_ means 'mousetrap' in
Latin which obviously alludes to the snapping shut. I
don't know if the pun on _musca_ was intentional or
merely fortuitous, but I like it :)

Happy growing,

Peter