We are incredibly lucky to have such a vast array of flowers and plants as wella s fruits and vegetables available to us and people are becoming more and more aware of the impact that they have on the environment and therefore on the types of plants that are around. Plants and insects such as bees live a very linked life and without one we can not have the other. Any trip to a Gloucestershire Florist such as http://flowershedtewkesbury.co.uk/ will see just a small display of the many flowers that they can offer you.

Image Credit

Did you know that it is one process that allows all of these plants and flowers to grow? This is Photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the process by which a plant uses water, carbon dioxide and sunlight and converts these into sugars that the plant then uses for its growth and then production of more seeds. Each plant has chloroplasts which are cells within the plant itself that uses the sun’s energy to turn into a chemical energy that the plant can then use. Here are some facts about this incredible process:

  • The green leaves of plants are due to the chlorophyll pigments that are found in the chloroplast cells. It is these cells that absorb the visible light from the sun that is used in photosynthesis. The reason the leaves appear green in colour is because this is the only lightwave colour that can not be absorbed by the plant.
  • During the first stage of photosynthesis light is absorbed from the sun and the energy is used to break down water molecules into its two main components hydrogen and oxygen. The energy harnessed at this point is used in stage two.
  • The Calvin Cycle is the second stage of the photosynthesis process where the energy is used to create carbohydrates one carbon molecule at a time until six carbon sugar molecules are created.
  • The leaves of plants changed colour during the Autumn and Winter as there is less of a need for photosynthesis to take place as the plant has spent the spring and summer months storing as much energy as possible to last it over the winter. This depends very much on whether the plant is an annual that dies each year or one that returns year after year.

Image Credit

Next time you enjoy the beauty of a rose flower or perhaps an incredible peony bush you will be able to appreciate all of the work that goes into producing those wonderful flowers year after year.