[TML] Alien ecologies

[Bruce Johnson]

On Aug 20, 2008, at 10:03 AM, Anthony Jackson wrote:

>>
>> So, what I am wondering is: is it possible to have purple  
>> photosynthetic plants?
>
> Sure. The purple plum tree, for example.



Which is purple simply because the purple pigment in it's leaves is  
'drowning out' the green, the same principle as fall leaf colors. It's  
not due to new pigments in the leaf, but due to the dominant pigment  
(chlorophyll) losing it's metal center and becoming colorless,  
allowing the other pigments to show.

-- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs