Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Why do leaves change color? This informative report will answer this question which may have preyed upon your mind.

First of all, let’s answer this question: Why are leaves green?

Well, if you examine a leaf, you’ll notice veins running through it like branches on a tree.      This delicate membrane carries water and sugar to the rest of the plant so that the plant  can continue to grow taller and to grow more branches, leaves, roots and maybe even flowers and fruit. Inside of these veins there are, of course, plant cells. Within the plant cells, there are organelles. One of these organelles is called a chloroplast. Inside of the chloroplast is the answer. Chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is a green pigment inside o the leaves’ veins. But what role does chlorophyll play?

First, let’s briefly go over leaves for a bit. Leaves act like solar panels for the plant. They move towards the light of the Sun and collect the sunlight to make energy for the plant. But how do they gather the sunlight? Chlorophyll!

So, instead of just giving leaves the beautiful green color that they are known for, chlorophyll is also vital for photosynthesis.

So now you know why leaves are green. But the question still remains unanswered: why do they change color in the fall?

Well, when a tree senses that the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer, it knows that it will have to survive with less water and sunlight. It no longer needs its leaves and the chlorophyl.

So the tree’s leaves begin to die. They loosen themselves from the branches. As they detach themselves from the tree, they stop making chlorophyll; because it’s no longer needed. The old chlorophyll fades. This reveals the true color of the leaf that has been masked b the chlorophyll. The tree begins to hibernate.

Leaves litter the ground in a sea of beautiful fall colors, such as red, orange, yellow, brown, and gold.

The leaves have changed color!

-KittyLover8
© 2012