Why do leaves turn colours in fall?
Part of this answer is rather cool, leaves don’t actually turn red (or yellow or orange) … they are always that colour it’s the green chlorophyll that masks it. As trees stop photosynthesis in the fall, the chlorophyll goes away and reveals the "true colours".
There is a greater science question here though. Things in nature don’t just happen for now purpose or reason. The reason why leaves turn, what was the physiological or adaptive strategy in play here, is something of a mystery. ScienceBase linked to a Wisconsin U. article with one theory. In order to store the nutrients and energy for winter, trees have to protect the process from light, by having leaves that change colours they protect the process.
That’s pretty cool, but I still just like the colours.
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