Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plant Structure-Function Relationships for Climate-Resilient Crops
Published on: July 12, 2024
Photosynthesis in epiphytic and rooted Clusia rosea Jacq
L da S L Sternberg1, I P Ting2, D Price3
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, 33124, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Abstract:
Clusia rosea Jacq. is a hemiepiphyte having Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). In its natural habitat Clusia begins its life cycle as an epiphyte and eventually becomes a rooted tree. These two stages of the life cycle of Clusia represent markedly different water regimes. Our CO2 exchange, stomatal conductance, titratable acidity, and stable carbon isotope ratio measurements indicate that Clusia has a flexible photosynthetic mode, where CO2 is fixed mostly via CAM during its epiphytic stage, when water availability is low, and via both CAM and C3 during its rooted stage.
Related Concept Videos
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
The Anatomy of Chloroplasts
Structure of...
What is Photosynthesis?
What is Photosynthesis?
Types of Organisms Based on their Modes of Nutrition
Broadly, there are two main categories of organisms based on their modes of nutrition — autotrophs and...
Anatomy of Chloroplasts

