They are named after the number of carbons of the first product of their carbon fixation cycle (the cycle used to make plant sugars).
C4 plants have a more elaborate carbon fixation cycle of C3 and reduces photorespiration. They are thought to have evolved more recently than C3 plants.
C3
C3 and C4 plants are both categories of plants based on the type of photosynthetic pathway they use. Both types of plants undergo the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide and produce sugar during photosynthesis. However, C4 plants have an additional carbon-concentrating mechanism that allows for more efficient photosynthesis in hot and dry conditions compared to C3 plants.
Sunflowers are C3 plants. They use the C3 carbon fixation pathway during photosynthesis, which is less efficient in hot and dry conditions compared to C4 plants.
Around 50ppm for C3 plants and around 5ppm for C4 plants.
Balsam plants are C3 plants. They use the C3 carbon fixation pathway for photosynthesis, which involves the initial fixation of carbon dioxide into a three-carbon compound.
C4 plants have an extra step in their photosynthetic pathway to minimize photorespiration, allowing them to be more efficient in hot and dry conditions compared to C3 plants. C4 plants, like corn and sugarcane, have specialized leaf anatomy with separate cells for carbon fixation, while C3 plants, like wheat and rice, lack this specialization.
C4 plants are not inherently larger than C3 plants. However, they are typically more efficient in photosynthesis due to their carbon fixation mechanism, which can help them grow better in certain conditions like high heat and drought.
Cocoa is neither a C3 or C4 plant. Though it tends to live in warmer climates, it does not fit into either category.
C4 plants are usually not aquatic, as they are more commonly found in dry, warm environments. C3 plants can include both terrestrial and aquatic plants, as they are more adaptable to different environmental conditions.
C3 plants have 3 carbon molecules in their first stable compound during photosynthesis, while C4 plants have 4 carbon molecules in their first stable compound. This difference affects the efficiency of carbon fixation and allows C4 plants to perform photosynthesis at a higher rate in hot and dry conditions.
No, pine trees are not C4 plants. They are considered C3 plants, which means they use the C3 photosynthetic pathway to fix carbon dioxide. C4 plants have a different mechanism to concentrate carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
Yes, zonal geraniums are C3 plants. They rely on the C3 photosynthesis pathway to fix carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.