A water-conserving form of photosynthesis where plants open their stomata at night to collect CO2, store it as organic acids, then use it for photosynthesis during the day with closed stomata. CAM stands for Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.
Named after the Crassulaceae family (succulents) where it was first discovered, combined with 'acid metabolism' because these plants store CO2 as organic acids overnight. The pathway was identified in the 1940s when scientists noticed these plants' unusual pattern of acid accumulation.
CAM photosynthesis is like having a night job to avoid the heat - these plants collect CO2 while it's cool and humid at night, then do photosynthesis during the scorching day with their pores sealed shut! It's the ultimate water-saving strategy that lets cacti and succulents thrive in deserts.
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