> From: aroid-l@mobot.org on behalf of Hermine Stover
> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 1997 2:19 PM
> To: Julius Boos
> Subject: Re: Flowers Don't Make Food
>
> At 10:41 PM 4/30/97 -0500, George R Stilwell, Jr. wrote:
> >Enough already! Flowers don't make food usually.
I have read these numerous messages concerning flowers or
inflourescences. There are a few blooms that have a greenish tint or
solid green coloration. What produces this color in these blooms, and if
it is one or more chlorophylls (say including type (a)), then what
function does it (chlorophyll) serve other than color if it is not
producing energy? Is it only a pigment?
I always thought that even deep red blooms or leaves contain certain
amounts of green chlorophylls but are only masked by the abundance of
the carotenoid pigments. These carotenoids add to the absorbtion of
light energy and pass this along to the chlorophylls.
Without a doubt, blooms are a drain on the resources of plants, a
sacrifice for the continuation of the species. However, I am not certain
that it is correct to assume that all blooms (inflouresences) do not
contribute to the creation of sugars with some miniscule photosynthesis.
Comments from the professionals?
Aching for spring to come...
T.L. McNinch, IAS
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