Colors of Plants
When you think of the color of a plant, you most likely think green. However, plants can be a wide variety of colors – ranging from red, to purple, to even black. Surprisingly, the color of the plant is essential for its well-being. If the plant lacked any color, it would end up dying.
Photosynthesis is the one of the primary processes that plants need to live. In simple terms, sunlight is converted into energy through a series of steps. Chlorophyll is the most common receptor of sunlight. This organelle absorbs blue and yellow light, which, when mixed together, creates green. Since the plant is unable to absorb said green light, it is then reflected which gives the plant its earthy appearance.
If chlorophyll makes the plants green, how are certain plants other colors? Well, there are other types of pigments! Carotenoids usually absorb yellow, red, and orange light in order to create those nice fall colors. When mixed together in one singular plant, almost the entire color wheel is present. This means that the plant can absorb any type of light, which is then reflected in its color.
The Future of Color
If some plants can absorb more colors, wouldn’t that make them better fit to survive? In theory, yes. They are adapted to survive in different conditions that could allow them to thrive if, for some reason, yellow and blue light was lost. However, this doesn’t mean that there is no hope for all of the other plants.
Evolution generally dictates that the strong survive. Given enough time, any plant that we see today, whether it be a tree, succulent, or even bush, could evolve to utilize different light as well. It might also be possible, due to the fast rate of reproduction of some plants, to force the plant to grow in less than ideal light conditions in order to force evolution. All of these colors happened without our interreference, so make sure to stop and appreciate the natural world the next time you go outside.