CRASSULACEAN ACID METABOLISM
crassulacean acid metabolism: translation
Physiological adaptation of certain succulent plants, in which CO2 can be fixed (non-photosynthetically) at night into malic and other acids. During the day the CO2 is regenerated and then fixed photosynthetically into the Calvin-Benson cycle. This adaptation permits the stomata to remain closed during the day, conserving water.