21 Oct 2014

Why do some leaves change their color in Autumn?

Every Autumn in all the forests of the world, there is a miraculous change in the color of the leaves. They turn from green into brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, and gold. Sometimes you can see several shades on the same leaf. But why are these color changes happening, and what is going on in the plant?
Read this explanation and you will understand!
Plants make their own food. They take water from the ground through their roots. They take a gas called carbon dioxide from the air. They turn water and carbon dioxide into food using sunlight and something called chlorophyll. This one is green. It gives leaves their green color.

Winter days are short and dry. Many plants stop making food in Autumn. Then, the chlorophyll goes away. Then we can see different colours as orange, yellow, red, gold and also brown. When they are brown, it comes from wastes left in the leaves.
Watch the video!

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