*Black Plants |

[bomba923]

(*Let's say we have some healthy albeit imaginary black plants :))

Would "black plants" pose a strict threat to the population of our currently flora (which happens to be green) ?

By "black plants" => photosynthetically-superior to green plants, in being able to absorb all wavelengths of visible light (i.e., green is NOT reflected off)
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Basically, how would the introduction of black plants affect Earth's biomes and the ecosystems within them?

For example, (I suppose?)
1) Black plants might absorb more heat, so tropical rainforests might not be strongly affected due to high external humidity preventing greater necessary transpiration ??

2) Tundras may be strongly affected. Extra photosynthetic capability of black plants helps combat the effect of permafrost ?? Not much heat in tundras either...?
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By "black plants," superior primarily in photosynthetic productivity (compared to green plants),

*What effects might the introduction of "black plants" have on Earth's biomes and the ecosystems within them, in general?

*And specifically on the populations of green plants?

[kuranes]

Black Kudzu landscapes would look cool in a horror movie about an area containing Lovecraftian blight. It couldn't be called "The Colour Out of Space" though.

[coffeezombie]

For all of the supposed superiority of black plants, there has to be some good reason they evolved to be green.

[Nadiar]

I seem to remember that it can be green, blue, or red. It has to absorb blue and red tinged light (I don't remember why), and blue and red would cancel the other out. If too much light is absorbed by chlorophyll, it begins to break down (I seem to remember its not stable). This is why plants evolved to reflect all of the other light spectrums. I do seem to remember some ferns and other plants that grow in dense forestation that are nearly black in appearance (they're a very dark green). I suspect this is to maximize the light use for what little light they get.

I'm not a biologist, so I might be wrong, this is all stuff I remember from 12-15 years ago...

[Conan]

bummer, i thought this thread was about black PANTS