My first guess (without knowing a damn bit about botany or biology) -- those are plants that utilize salts and not rely mostly on sugars in their growth. My guess is those plants could get an earlier start on growth as the weather warms from freezing. A few small plants I'm aware of that don't mind salts in their diets sprout early and sprout 'red'.
See differences of sugar & salt effect on FDP at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezing-point_depression
Not sure what role the salts might have in the red coloring, but why not? I would love to hear from trained folks if this has any bearing...
Have you noticed that many of the first blooming trees are red? Wonder why.
ReplyDeleteMy first guess (without knowing a damn bit about botany or biology) -- those are plants that utilize salts and not rely mostly on sugars in their growth.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is those plants could get an earlier start on growth as the weather warms from freezing.
A few small plants I'm aware of that don't mind salts in their diets sprout early and sprout 'red'.
See differences of sugar & salt effect on FDP at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezing-point_depression
Not sure what role the salts might have in the red coloring, but why not?
I would love to hear from trained folks if this has any bearing...
Wow, you know way more than I do.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting theory.