As the sun rises each day it casts its warm rays across the landscape. Every tree the light touches will reflect back a dazzling array of green. During the summer months, in particular, these seas of green are mesmerising. Yet, have you ever stopped to wonder why trees come in so many different shades of green?
Recently, a guest asked me this question and while it mostly comes down to the pigments in the leaves, it’s a little more complex than the biology lessons on photosynthesis and chlorophyll that I could remember. So with the lush green abundance that currently surrounds us, I thought it was a topic worth re-exploring.
Exploring the lush green Leadwood Forest is a firm favourite for any staff or guest that gets the opportunity to!
Where does the colour green come from?
The green colour in leaves is due to the presence of chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs sunlight energy, which in turn is used to make food through the process of photosynthesis. While this part of the process is more familiar, it is actually the molecular properties of chlorophyll that absorb and reflect certain wavelengths of natural light which leads us to see leaves as green. As light hits a leaf, the chlorophyll absorbs wavelengths from the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum and reflects wavelengths in the green, yellow, and orange spectrum in varying degrees back into our eyes. The Greek roots of the word chlorophyll are thus chloros meaning green and phyllon meaning leaf.
Why are there different shades of green?
Not only does the amount of chlorophyll in a leaf affect the shade of green, but I was surprised to learn that there are actually 6 broad categories of chlorophyll. However, I will keep it simple here as plants mostly have only two types of chlorophyll in them:
Chlorophyll A
The primary pigment involved in photosynthesis and is found in all photosynthetic organisms. It absorbs light most efficiently in the blue and red wavelengths and reflects light in the green wavelength resulting in slightly more yellow-green shades.
While Marula trees are a familiar favourite for leopards, here we can also see the different shades of green in the trees surrounding the Xinzele Female. Some plants have leaves that are a lighter, more muted shade of green than others. These plants have evolved to be more efficient at converting sunlight into energy and as a result, they don’t need to absorb as much light.
A small female often found in NW Marthly. Similar spot pattern to her mother the Ingrid Dam Female.
Chlorophyll B
A secondary pigment that is found in some plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. It is not as efficient at absorbing light as chlorophyll A and it differs by absorbing light in the blue and green wavelengths and reflecting light in the yellow and red wavelengths. This results in darker shades of blue-green leaves.
The riparian forests around the Sand River highlight that some plants reflect light in such a way that their leaves appear to be a deep rich shade of green. These plants have evolved to absorb as much sunlight as possible, using energy to power their growth and reproduction.
While the amount and combination of these two types of chlorophyll will result in varying shades of green, there are also other pigments called carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and xanthophylls that contribute to the overall colour of the leaves. These pigments produce yellows, oranges, reds, blues, and purples which not only influence the shades of green but are also responsible for the bright colours we see in flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
During autumn and winter, the chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, allowing the other pigments to show through and giving the leaves their characteristic red, yellow, and orange hues. A photo from the archives of the Dudley Riverbank Female.
The Dudley Riverbank female was another successful cub of the 3:4 female that reached old age, eventually passing away at just over 17 years
What else can influence the shades of green?
The shades of green that we see in plants are also influenced by the habitat in which they grow. Different habitats have different light levels, temperatures, and soil conditions, all of which can affect the chlorophyll concentration and contribute to the wide range of shades of green that we see in plants.
- Light: The intensity and quality of light can affect the colour of a plant. For example, plants exposed to full sunlight may have deeper green or red colours than those grown in the shade because they can produce more chlorophyll.
- Temperature: Cool temperatures can cause some plants to develop reddish or purplish colours, while warm temperatures may cause them to become more yellow or green.
- Soil: The nutrients and pH of the soil can influence the colour of a plant. For example, iron deficiency can cause a plant to become pale or yellow, while an excess of iron can cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown.
- Age: As plants age, their colour may change. For example, the leaves of some plants may turn yellow or red as they mature.
- Drought: Drought stress can cause a plant to lose its color, especially in its leaves. This is because the plant is not able to produce as much chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis.
The vibrant green of the African Green Pigeon amongst a large fruiting fig tree. Each tree has developed a specialised concentration of pigments that help them absorb certain wavelengths of light, which allows them to thrive in environments where other plants might struggle.
Although, pigments might be the foundation of the summer shades of green and the golden autumn hues, diving deeper into some of the more technical chemistry and understanding that each plant has evolved to adapt to its environment in its own unique way gives us a greater appreciation of the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Whether it is the deep emerald green of a mahogany tree or the vibrant green of the bushwillow trees, the shades of green are also a testament to the adaptability and resilience of trees and a symbolic reminder of growth, renewal, and prosperity.
It’s so interesting seeing the vibrant and lush landscape, since we have only visited in winter,
Hopefully we will get to see you in Summer one day then Vin!
I just love green. My husband has red-green colorblindness, so to him green appears more orange. It breaks my heart that he can’t see the vibrancy and variation of the plethora of greens (or bright reds and pinks for that matter) in the natural world. 💚
Wow, that must be quite something for him but I’m sure he sees the beauty in the shades of orange! I’m glad you love and can appreciate the greens even more 🙂
Thanks for the interesting article on the shades of green and the lovely pictures .
Always a pleasure Christa 🙂
Feeling smarter already today! Interesting topic.
Thanks Kara, I’m glad you enjoyed the topic and learnt something new.
Kelsey you have taken a lot of time to research the difference between the colour greens. Very interesting and also looking at the colours of green makes a person appreciated the beauty that abounds us. Each tree as you say adapts to it’s surroundings. The primary pigment and 2nd pigment makes a huge difference.
Thanks Valmai, it is a really interesting topic and certainly does give you a greater appreciation as you say.
Thanks for another informative article Kelsey, related to the questions “why are here so many shades of green”?! The blogs over the past few weeks have been a fantastic source of information about the more natural aspects of the Londolozi property, such as the river in the various seasons, and now the colors of green, and I find these quite useful to expanding my knowledge of the area. I am looking forward to the next scientific blog.
My pleasure Denise, I’m really happy to hear how much you are enjoying the blogs. There are definitely some more scientific blogs coming up 🙂
Did the Dudley leopard starve to deathu
When the Dudley leopard passed away, did she starve to death?
Perfectly written with images to take one’s breath away!
Thank you Francesca 🙂
Kelsey, great pictures along with your recap of the colorful bush veld.
Thank you William!
Thank you! I learned something different today. Thank you for the informative Blogs!
My pleasure Gawie, I’m glad you could learn something new.
thank you for such a wonderful article
Absolute pleasure Ian!
Great information and stunning imagery Kelsey!!
Thank you Paul, I’m glad you enjoyed it!