Final answer:
The plant with leaves that are reddish yellow is not absorbing light from the green, red, and yellow wavelengths. Therefore, the correct answer is e) Green, red, and yellow. The reflection of these colors indicates they are not being absorbed due to the presence of reddish-yellow pigments, likely carotenoids, in addition to chlorophyll.
Step-by-step explanation:
A plant with leaves that are reddish yellow is not absorbing light from the wavelengths that it reflects. Since the leaves appear reddish yellow, they would be reflecting red and yellow wavelengths of the visible light spectrum. Therefore, the plant is not absorbing these wavelengths.
Looking at the options provided:
- a) Red and yellow - This cannot be the correct answer because the plant is reflecting these colors.
- b) Blue and violet - This is likely not the answer as these are typically absorbed by plants.
- c) Green and yellow - Green could be part of the correct answer, as plants often reflect green, but because yellow is reflected and not absorbed, this is not the correct answer.
- d) Green and red - Red is being reflected, so this is not the correct answer.
- e) Green, red, and yellow - This is the correct answer, as plants usually reflect green wavelengths, and since the plant is also reflecting red and yellow, it would not be absorbing them.
The absorption of light by plants is determined by their photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll pigments generally absorb light in the blue and red regions and reflect green, which is why most plants appear green. However, in this case, the presence of reddish-yellow pigments (possibly carotenoids) also reflects red and yellow wavelengths.