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How do flowers have different colours?

Why the colours of leaves and flowers are different?

  • Answer:

    Do you mean different on the same plant, or the differences that exist throughout the plant kingdom? The reason for the different colorations on leaves than flowers is that flowers are meant to attract other animals (insects, birds, etc.) and have evolved special pigments that these animals can see/respond to. Leaves, however, are there for the generation of energy via photosynthesis, thus contain pigments that allow photosynthesis to occur (i.e. chlorophyll). Now, why there is such variety in plant colors is due to the fact that each plant takes a different approach to attracting animals (flowers) and making energy (leaves). There are different types of dyes (mainly metal containing compounds or complex polyphenols) that give plant material its pigment. The tint and brightness will give you a hint to what type and how much pigment is present, but the color we see that plant has is a mixure of all those pigments. Some animals respond better to different colors, thus flowers have different colors based on what animals the plants have evolved with. Leaves receive different amounts of light and grow in different cycles, altering the color and types of pigments they hold to make energy.

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The work of leaves is to make food for the tree & flowers is to create seeds for the reproduction & therefore they have attracting colors which attracts many bees for doing seeds transplant to another place.

m l

There is chlorophil in the flower petals, they are just modified leaves, really, but not enough to change their color. The way cool thing is this... flowers are lures for insects in several ways. Smell, nurishment and color. The first two are obvious, but the last is the most interesting. Insects see better in the Ultra Violet part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum... so the flowers actually look like targets to the insect in UV! Way cool stuff... flowers main function is not to produce food, but reproduction, so they are not green, but do a little photosynthesis.

bonsaibiologist

they are different because they emphasizes different characteristics with different goals to pursue.....

mypandalicious

So they stand out like targets and the insects such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds (not insect) can find them, gather nectar, and thus transfer pollen. It is a pure survival ploy. Some flower petals even have uv markings on them that insects can see better (but we cannot).

powhound

bcoz chlorophyll is prsnt in lvs 2 giv green color flower i dont kno

queries

leaves are for the production of food, thus it needs chlorophyll. flowers are for reproduction, thus it needs to be attractive to insects that will spread its pollen...

fobel

They have different purposes. Leaves are for photosynthesis, making food. The chemical that does this, chlorophyll is green, and so leaves are too. Flowers are sexual organs. They are colored (and scented) to attract pollinators.

kaplah

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