Autumn leaf. Close-up of the surface of a leaf showing autumnal colours. The leaf is from a deciduous plant, which sheds its leaves in autumn to preve

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Autumn leaf. Close-up of the surface of a leaf showing autumnal colours. The leaf is from a deciduous plant, which sheds its leaves in autumn to prevent water loss and frost damage over the winter period. The vivid colours seen here are due to the breakdown of the green pigment chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight during photosynthesis. This breakdown reveals other pigments which are usually hidden by the chlorophyll.

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Size: 3500px × 3000px
Photo credit: © VICTOR de SCHWANBERG/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: autumn, autumnal, botany, change, close-, colour, colours, dead, deciduous, dying, fall, leaf, leaves, nature, plant, plants, season, seasonal, seasons, senescence, surface, tissue, vascular, vein, veins