The energy of the sunlight, more specifically the light particles, photons, is absorbed by chlorophyll, a pigment present in green parts of the plants. The pigment absorbs the energy of the photon and becomes excited. This energy is then transferred trough the cell and ultimately used to produce simple sugars in the ''dark side'' of the photosynthesis. The energy stored in sugars can later be used by the plant, or consumed by herbivores who eat the plants.