Plant Species Intermediate for C ₃ , C ₄ Photosynthesis

Abstract

Mollugo verticillata is the first plant species reported which has characteristics of both C(3) (Calvin-Benson pathway) and C(4) (Hatch-Slack pathway) plants. This plant species is intermediate between C(3) and C(4) plants in at least four features generally used to separate those two plant groups: leaf anatomy, cell ultrastructure, photorespiration, and primary photosynthetic products.