Terrestrial orchids are C3 photosynthesizers. Epiphytic orchids are divided in how they carry out carbon assimilation: thin leaved epiphytes perform C3, though there is some evidence for C4 too; thick leaved succulent-type epiphytes (almost every monopodial epiphyte) are CAM photosynthesizers. This makes sense, as CAM is an adaptation for conserving water.
However, I've often read that the metabolic pathways used by many orchid families are not well understood.
Last edited by markr; 05-20-2009 at 03:13 PM..
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