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Life Processes in Plants

Red leaves can make food too

Some plants have red or purple leaves. Do those leaves make food?

A usual leaf has chlorophyll.
Step 1 of 3
  1. A usual leaf has chlorophyll.
  2. A red or purple leaf has other pigments (colours) too. They hide the green.
  3. If it has chlorophyll, it can make food in sunlight.

Yes, if it has chlorophyll. Many red leaves do.

The new word

  • Pigment — a colour that a leaf makes. Chlorophyll is the green pigment.

The rule

Many red and purple leaves have chlorophyll too. Other pigments hide the green. A leaf with chlorophyll can make food in light.

Red pigments can block some of the strong light. In strong light, a red leaf may make less food.

Now try it. Read the question. Tap the answer.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 A plant makes its own food
  3. 2 What a leaf does with light
  4. 3 Where in a leaf it happens
  5. 4 Testing a leaf for starch
  6. 5 Checkpoint: how a plant builds its own food
  7. 6 What the roots take in
  8. 7 Water up, food around
  9. 8 Where the food ends up
  10. 9 A plant respires, day and night
  11. 10 Sunlight, water and growth
  12. 11 Does a leaf need carbon dioxide?
  13. 12 What a leaf gives out
  14. 13 Red leaves can make food too
  15. 14 The big picture
  16. 15 Track quiz

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