puzzle flower

red flower petal 40X

One of the main functions a flower petal has is to attract insects to the flower in order for pollination to occur. While the microscope caused this petal to lose its red color in the picture, generally, the colors petals have are actually from a variety of pigments like carotenoids.

red flower petal 40X

Carotenoids are generally stored in chromoplasts (organelles seen inside of the cells). Following, anthocyanins are water soluble pigments that are one of the key pigments that emit the flower's color as seen in these pictures.

red flower petal 100X

For flowers that rely on insects to spread pollen to other flowers, bright petal colors are absolutely necessary because it is one of the main ways insects are attracted to that plant.

red flower petal 400X