Science Photo of the Day
As the weather starts to get warmer, or at least less chilly, here in Florida, the roses are starting to leaf out. Why are the young leaves of so many plants red?
The red color is due to pigments called anthocyanins. This is the same kind of pigment found in red cabbage, blueberries, black berries, violets, and many other plants. In young leaves, the excess anthocyanin acts as sun screen, absorbing ultraviolet light and the blue/green end of the visible spectrum to prevent the tender, fresh growth from being "burned" by too much light.
Morgan From Mrs.Webber's Class
Salut comment vas-tu Mr.Krampf,(Hi how are you Mr.Krampf in french)
I would think that the leaves are red when there young because they don't have enough liquid to make color!!
Your Admirer,
Morgan
We think that the leaf
We think that the leaf "factory" hasn't gotten started yet. The true color of the leaf is red until the chlorophyl takes over.
Mr. Miller's 5th grade class
We think they don't have
We think they don't have chloropyll yet. The chlorophyll makes the leaves look green.
Why are leaves red?
The leaves are red because, this problably is the result of delayed chlorophyll for the leaves or delayed development of the chloropasts. Pretty much the same of the comment above this comment.
Or that when it gets cold at night it prevents movement of sugar througout the leaves. Therefore the sugars trapped in the leaves causing a red pigment called anthocyanin! Thats why in the picture that only SOME of the leaves are red. I also noticed that on some of the tips of the leaves are red.
red leaves
We are guessing that chlorophyll isn't strong enough yet in new leaves to color them green. So the red is their "natural" color.
2doodles makes a good point. The duration of sunlight is not at its peak yet. But when we got up this morning, it wasn't dark! We are glad that the days are getting longer!
red leaves
I think they are red cause the chlorophyl hasn't gotten all the way through their systems yet.
Or because it is more difficult to perform photosynthesis in cooler weather.
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