Nature Walk: Autumn Color

“Autumn color in a tree such as this black maple often begins at the top of a tree or on a branch that extends out beyond the canopy. These areas receive the most sunlight as opposed to partially shaded branches. We know leaves are green because of chlorophyll, which uses sunlight to produce sugars and feed the plant. Chlorophyll masks cartotenoids that produce the yellow, orange and brown, while anthocyanins give us reds. Fall colors appear when an abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stopping the production of chlorophyll.” -Carl Kurtz