Trees are remarkable plants, and at no time is that more apparent than in the fall, when deciduous trees — bracing themselves for the winter — begin their transition into dormancy. The result is a vibrant and magnificent display of colors.
It’s not just an act of visual poetry – it’s chemistry. It can explain why some trees turn the color they do, why some regions have better displays of foliage and how that changing of colors benefits the tree itself.
Trees are surprisingly sensitive, and the reasons for a tree’s behavior in the fall could depend on the conditions it faced six or even nine months before.
Continue reading at Texas A&M University
Image via Texas A&M University