Ever since the leaves on the trees bloomed in the spring, they have actively been helping the tree grow. Each leaf contains a pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the most common pigment in a leaf. It absorbs the sun’s rays to turn sunlight into food and energy for the tree. Chlorophyll is also what gives a plant its green color.

NPS Photo/Hadley Seymour

NPS Photo/Hadley Seymour
Index:
- Enzyme: a substance in plants and animals that can perform specific tasks to keep plants and animals functioning
- Pigment: the natural color of plant or animal tissue
Citations:
- Britannica Kids, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., kids.britannica.com/students/article/enzyme/274186.
- “Chlorophyllase.” ScienceDirect Topics, ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/chlorophyllase.
- Palm, Carl E. “Why Leaves Change Color.” Around Your World, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm.