In fall,why does not ash turn red? Why birch turns yellow not orange-red ?

I know how leaves change to different colors. All web site I checked mention chlorophlls, carotenoids, anthocyanins, etc. BUT, what decides this kind of tree change to red, the other turn yellow and orange but not red? Is it because genetically inherited?

Okay, maybe this is not a good example, but I hope that helps people understand my questiom: Andy had green hair, but his hair color changes to red when he is 18 years old. His friend Bob who is also 18, changes to yellow. Why Andy's hair change to red, not yellow? Is it because genetically inherited?

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In fall,why does not ash turn red? Why birch turns yellow not orange-red ?

Each tree, in its genetic structure, has a "blueprint" (if you will) to determine which of these chemicals/pigments are in their leaves and in what quanities. The chlorophil is the dominant color, in the fall, this "dies off" (for lack of a better phrase) ... what is left are the colors you didn't see before and the quantities of these chemicals present determines what overall color the leaves will show in the fall ...

eg: a leaf dominant with carotenoids will appear yellow, and one dominant or soley containing anthocyanins will be red ... a leaf with approximately equal amounts of both will appear orange ...

this is my summary recollection from biology ... this link is more complicated, but says pretty much the same thing ...

In fall,why does not ash turn red? Why birch turns yellow not orange-red ?

Glad I could help :) Report It

In fall,why does not ash turn red? Why birch turns yellow not orange-red ?

yes

In fall,why does not ash turn red? Why birch turns yellow not orange-red ?

Try this link. It all tells you what other colors tree leaves turn.