The change in the color of the leaves at the top of the trees along highway was more pronounced today. In particular, the maples are beginning to start their rainbow of change along the very tops of the trees. Seeing this annual alteration of of the foliage of my favorite plants made me remember back to the Botany class that I took about six years ago as to why the leaves change color.
When the leaves are created, not only chloroplasts filled with chlorophyll genersting mechanisms are formed, but chromoplasts are also formed. The chromoplasts range in color from gold to red with the extent of how much of each color exists being dependent on the species of plant. Chromoplasts exist at the same time that the chloroplasts keep begin producing chlorophyll, a bluish green substance. The two sets of "plasts" create the final leaf color seen during the summer. As chlorophyll needs to be produced by the leaves and is not automatically present, the early, new spring leaves are more of a yellow-green due to the chloroplasts being more prominent.
As winter approaches and the trees begin to become dormant, the leaves stop producing chlorophyll. The chlorophyll that is already in the leaf gets used up by photosynthesis. The green disappears and what is left are the chromoplasts giving the tree its brilliant autumnal colors.
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Blog written by three brainy, witty family characters! Sometimes we think too much! But we can not guarantee crrect typing or sepllign!
