Spontaneous Electrical Activity of Dionaea muscipula.

Instillation of four to six drops of 3-percent saline in the leaf trap of Dionaea muscipula Ellis causes the appearance of a series of spontaneous action potentials. Mechanical stimulation of the sensitive leaf hair elicits only a single response. Immersion in 3-percent, but not in 1-percent, saline effects a loss of weight in Dionaea but not in the leaves of gardenia or geranium.