Leaf Colour and Light Reflection | ||||||||
LEAF COLOUR: Different chlorophyll pigments in different grasses give each a characteristic hue. In particular, if we use perennial ryegrass as our reference (we will call this colour "emerald" green), we will find that some grasses are more yellow and some grasses are more blue in their leaf colour. The human eye can learn to recognise these colour differences, often when several metres away from the plant in question.
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LIGHT
REFLECTION: Not only do leaves of different plants
have different colour hues, but they also reflect light differently because
of differences in cuticle structure and composition. In particular, some
plants are notable for their shiny leaf surface (below left), while others
have dull leaves (below, right). |
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MORE
ON COLOUR: Stem bases of pasture plants may also
show distinctive colours. These include shades of purple (Yorkshire fog
- purple veins), red (perennial ryegrass - red stem base), yellow-brown
(crested dogstail - where green stem colour fades to cream), and chocolate
brown (dead leaves of fine fescue and perennial ryegrass) - examples below,
but do not try to memorise these just yet, you will meet them again later. |
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