What makes a lilly different from the other flowers?

What makes flowers different colors?

• Answer:

  The color of a flower is a reflection of the pigments contain within the cells of the plant. Light reflects on the pigments and our eyes interpret that reflection as color. There are four types of pigments: anthocyanidins, flavones, carotenes, and chlorophyll. Different combinations of these pigments create different shades of colors, essentially a limitless palate.AnthocyanidinsAnthocyanidins are red, blue, and purple pigments. They are found in geraniums, day lilies, violas and delphiniums.FlavonesFlavones, or flavonoids, produce pale yellow, as well as colors not visible to the human eye. They are found in roses.CarotenesCarotenes, or carotenoids, produce yellow and orange colors. They are found in marigolds and sunflowers.ChlorophyllChlorophyll produces green and is found in all plants.Color ChangesThere are several reasons that the color of a flower can change. Acidity is a primary causes of color change. Acidity level (pH) can interact with the pigments at a cellular level and alter them, resulting in a change of color. As a flower ages, or dies, the pigment cells die, which effects the color. This color change helps insects know when a flower is past its pollination stage. Scientists can remove genes from flowers and insert genes into others creating a new shade or color.Color PerceptionThe color of a flower can be different depending on the eyes looking at the flower. Men and women perceive color differently. Women can interpret colors on a finer level allowing them to differentiate shades of a color, such as baby blue, teal, navy blue and royal blue. Men tend to see color more globally, such as light blue, dark blue. Insects can see pigments that the human eye cannot see at all. A white rose may actually appear blue to an insect.Source:http://www.shieldsgardens.com/DLPlace/pigments.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/flowercolor.htmlhttp://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/pubs/oh24colr.htm