The rates of net photosynthesis (P^). respiration and growth of Lemna gibba L. were measured as fiinctions of tiine across ranges of temperature, irradiance and carbon dioxide concentrations. on an area basis increased with temperature up to 30 °C but decreased dramatically within a few hours of exposure to elevated CO2, when reported on a dry mass basis. Reductions in the apparent quantum efRciency, photosynthetic capacity and the affinity of ribulose-l,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase for CO2 were observed for plants grown at elevated CO2. Starch concentration was not significantly affected by elevated CO2. Although elevated temperature increased metaboiic activity, it only partíally ídleviated the inhibition of P^. L. gibba exhibits a characteristic C3-type response to elevated CO2 and the methodology described is usefiil for fiirther elucidating the mechanism of photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2.