Anthocyanin Pigments and Plant Defences

The red, pink, blues and even black colours in plants are produced by the anthocyanin pigments that not only absorb light for photosynthesis, but also have other roles such as in detering grazing animals, protecting against UV light, extreme temperatures. Obvious in spring the anthocyanins become hidden by the more important green chlorophyll pigments until autumn when they re-appear as the chlorophylls decline.