Ask A Scientist© Botany Archive

name         Emily
status       student
age          11

Question -   Why is a purple plant prple on the outside but green on
the inside?
------------------------------------------------
All plants need chlorophyll to photosynthesize. So they must be green
somewhere. they have other pigments also to increase the amount of light they
can use for photosynthesis. In purple plants, the red overshadows the green
but the green is there underneath.

Van Hoeck
=========================================================
Dear Emily,

The coloration of a plant's surface is related to the wavelength of light
reflected.  Other color wavelengths of light are absorbed.  Chlorophyll
which is needed for photosynthesis is green; therefore, there needs to be
green somewhere, in this case, "inside".

Sincerely,

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.
=========================================================