Cadmium (Cd) treatments caused an inhibition in the net photosynthetic rate (PN) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) plants, due to the reduction of stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic pigment contents, as well as the alteration in leaf structure. The decrease of the transpiration rate and gs might result from the Cd-induced xerophyte anatomic features of leaves (i.e. thick lamina, upper epidermis, palisade mesophyll, high palisade to spongy thickness ratio, as well as abundant and small stomata). The decline of PN was independent of the impairment in photosystem 2. and G. R. Shi, Q. S. Cai.