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Definition

noun

An acronym for Crassulacean acid metabolism, an elaborate carbon fixation pathway in plants, such as the succulents and some xerophytes.

Supplement

This pathway renders plants the ability to thrive and adapt in arid environments. It was first observed by the botanists, Ranson and Thomas, in the Crassulaceae family of succulents.

Compare: C3 carbon fixation pathway, C4 carbon fixation pathway.
See also: Crassulacean acid metabolism, CAM plant.