They are common pigments, also found in flowers, and foods such as carrots, bananas and egg yolks. Although their exact role in leaves is uncertain, scientists think they may be involved somehow in photosynthesis. The bright red and purple colors come from anthocyanin pigments. These are also common in plants such as beets, red apples and purple grapes, and flowers such as violets and hyacinths. In the leaves, these pigments are formed in the autumn from trapped glucose.
Brown colors come from tannin, a bitter waste product.
Different combinations of these pigments provide a wide range of colors each fall. We welcome your questions, comments or suggestions .