Biology question...

Long ago, when I was in high school biology class, it was explained to me that plant leaves are green because they contain chlorophyll, which is green. Why then do some trees have red leaves? Is there a red type of chlorophyll? If so, why was this never mentioned in biology class?

I’ve tried researching the answer on the web, but with no success. Anyone know?

Some plants do have pigments other than chlorophyll, called accessory pigments. There’s a group called carotenoids that includes red and other colors. If you do a Google search for carotenoid photosynthesis you’ll get more information than you want, probably.

Obviously, that was my next guess. :slight_smile:

Thanks, I’ll try that.

Cecil has discussed carotenoids in relation to the color of flamingos and the autum colors of leaves. Are flamingos pink because they eat shrimps?

See also this thread from Comments on Cecil’s columns: Chlorophyll hides Reds and Oranges

~~Good answer Bob, …but it wasn’t long enough or detailed
enough so that’s why I was forced to not give full credit
for your answer…

at least that’s how it went for me and my answers…

Technically, this was a botany question.

I’m going to pedant off now…

This recent article summarizes the current thinking on red fall colors: http://www.scientificamerican.com/explorations/2001/101501leaf/

Well, next time instead of copying off of me, get a biochemistry textbook and copy the whole chapter, and see if that’s long enough for them!