# Biology question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662 "2001-10-31T04:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Krokus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Krokus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krokus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/1 "2001-10-31T04:58:16Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/2 "2001-10-31T05:13:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Krokus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Krokus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krokus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/3 "2001-10-31T05:28:18Z")
Obviously, that was my next guess. 🙂 Thanks, I’ll try that. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/4 "2001-10-31T06:06:46Z")
Cecil has discussed carotenoids in relation to the color of flamingos and the autum colors of leaves. [Are flamingos pink because they eat shrimps?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010518.html) See also this thread from Comments on Cecil’s columns: [Chlorophyll hides Reds and Oranges](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=71264) ---
**Author:** ![tapioca\_tundra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@tapioca\_tundra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapioca_tundra)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/5 "2001-10-31T12:34:58Z")
~~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… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/6 "2001-11-01T02:12:05Z")
Technically, this was a _botany_ question. I’m going to pedant off now… ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/7 "2001-11-01T03:14:15Z")
This recent article summarizes the current thinking on red fall colors: [http://www.scientificamerican.com/explorations/2001/101501leaf/](http://www.scientificamerican.com/explorations/2001/101501leaf/) ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biology-question/90662/8 "2001-11-01T03:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anticay \* > \*\*~~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… \*\* 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!