Functional leaf anatomy of plants with crassulacean acid metabolism

Crassulacean acid metabolism ( CAM) has evolved independently on dozens of occasions and is now found in over 7% of plant species. In this study, the leaf structure of a phylogenetically diverse assemblage of 18 CAM plants was compared with six C-3 plants and four C-4 plants to assess whether consistent anatomical patterns that may reflect functional constraints are present. CAM plants exhibited increased cell size and increased leaf and mesophyll thickness relative to C-3 and C-4 species. CAM species also exhibited reduced intercellular air space (IAS) and reduced length of mesophyll surface exposed to IAS per unit area (L-mes / area). The low volume of IAS and low exposure of mesophyll surface to IAS likely increases internal resistance to CO2 in CAM tissues. While this diffusional barrier may limit uptake of CO2 during Phases II and IV, carbon economy could be enhanced through the reduced loss of internal CO2 during all four phases of CAM.