CAM photosynthesis (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) in vascular epiphytes

N. M. Orlov^a, *, V. A. Viktorova^a, and A. K. Eskov^{a, b}

^aTzitzin Main Botanical Garden, RAS
Botanicheskaya, 4, Moscow, 127276 Russia
^bLomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology
Leninskie Gory, 1/12, Moscow, 119234 Russia
*e-mail: nikolas.orloff@gmail.com

The review summarizes and systematizes the results of existing experimental studies of the presence of СAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) in vascular epiphytes in South and Central America, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This group of plants, despite its diverse taxonomic composition, exhibits common features in the distribution of carbon isotope signature values (δ¹³С), which is associated with the wide distribution of СAM variants among its representatives. Based on the analysis of literature data, we collected about 2000 δ¹³С values of vascular epiphytes. Based on the rich experience of studying individual floras and taxa of epiphytes, we are trying to give a currently available global picture of the distribution of СAM among epiphytes.