Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope abundances inStylites reflect its unique physiology.

Natural abundances of oxygen-18, carbon-14, carbon-13 and deuterium were measured inStylites andicola, a terrestrial vascular plant lacking stomates, and two terrestrial plant species having stomates that grew nearby. No substantial differences in oxygen-18 and carbon-13 abundances were observed among the three species. The deuterium concentration inStylites was much higher than in the other species, confirming a previous report of CAM inStylites. Stylites was depleted in carbon-14 relative to the present day atmosphere, consistent with the proposal that it fixes CO2 derived from decomposing peat.