Question

An example of a CAM plant is
a. Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
b. Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
c. Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris)
d. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Answer 1

The full form of CAM is crassulacean acid metabolism, it is a type CAM photosynthesis occur in the plants are adapting to arid regions, wherein this plants, stomata are closed in the day time to reduce evapotranspiration, while night time they are open to collect the carbon dioxide, where it is stored in vacuoles as carbonic acid malic acid, and it is transferred to the chloroplast in the day time and use for photosynthesis.

Complete answer:
The plants where photosynthesis occurred by CAM metabolism are called CAM plants and it is found in the family of Crassulaceae.
The benefits of the CAM are they allow plants to close the stomata during day times, and these plants are mainly found in arid regions, where availability of water is less, and hottest climate, so closing stomata reduces evaporation and transpiration.

Based on the degree of CAM, they are divided into

Obligate CAM plants: These plants always show CAM during photosynthesis, and based on the ability to store carbon dioxide these CAM plants in turn are divided into weak CAM and strong CAM.

Inducible CAM: These plants switch between the use of C3 OR C4 mechanism, and some other plants show CAM cycling.
- The plants that show Inducible CAM and cycling are found in the water shortage period which alternates with a period of water-free availability.
- Most of the CAM plants are epiphytes, examples: orchids, bromeliads.
- Succulent Xerophytes, examples are Euphorbia, cacti, etc.
- Hemiepiphytes: an example is Clusia, and snake plants, ( sansiverium) are some of the examples of CAM plants.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: CAM plants show some important characteristics of Xerophytes, where this CAM plants show thick, reduced leaves with thick cuticle, and they have sunken stomata looks like pits, they show low surface area to volume, and their leaves shed during dry seasons, and this plants store water in the vacuoles.