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crassulacean acid metabolism
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| cras·su·la·cean ac·id me·tab·o·lism [ krassə làysh'n ássid mə tàbbə lizzəm ] |
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photosynthesis in arid-region plants: photosynthesis occurring in cacti and other plants of dry regions whereby carbon dioxide is taken in at night and chemically converted for storage until it is used during daylight. This process enables the plant to close its leaf pores during the daytime, thereby conserving water.
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| [< modern Latin Crassula, genus name of succulent plants < Latin crassus "thick"] |
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