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Flux

colouring in Acacia phylllodes

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Bit of a random question, but does anyone know what causes, or is the function of, the vibrant red-pink colouring at the end of the young phyllodes of certain acacias.

I have noticed this most prominently on Courtii, Phlebophylia and Obtusifolia (as this young seedling so beautifully shows)...do other Acacias do this ?

 

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Anthocyanins appear to be the answer, somehow used to protect the new growth from uv light? I suppose developing chlorophyll into new shoots, only to have them burn off on a hot Australian day is a waste of energy.

I have come across a number of acacias that do this, though given the previous (halfassed) explanation, the question is now, why don't they all have red pigment?

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I say a complanata with a gradiant from red - to - green - to - blue in the phyllode.   

the answer I got was ...."test it" ... from one extraordinary helpful chap.      shrug.   they're pretty tho 

 

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funny I was thinking about this today as my baby Obtusifolias look just like that.

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