[Michelle]

Michelle asked the Naked Scientists:
   
What is the true colour of leaves? I heard a talk stating that the true colour is brown/red and that the chlorophyll masks the "true colour". Is this true?

What do you think?

[MikeS]

What's the colour of a fallen leaf when chlorophyll is no longer being produced, brown/red.

[chris]

What you heard is true, Michelle. When leaves senesce and prepare to drop the colour change is provoked by the breakdown and removal of the chlorophyll pigments and the disclosure (and in some cases increased production) of antioxidants, which are highly coloured. Together these effects cause the leaves to turn the beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange that we associate with autumn.

Chris