Question: Hi there. The purple undersides of this plant's leaves caught my eye on a recent hike. I think it must …
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Question
Hi there. The purple undersides of this plant's leaves caught my eye on a recent hike. I think it must be a distinctive attribute, but I can't place the species or family for the life of me. Any ideas? It is apparently evergreen, but the leaves are not very think (i.e. not like Gaultheria procumbens) Found in somewhat rich-mesic mixed woods in the Pioneer Valley, Mass. Thanks!
Answer
Dear Petros, I'm sorry I cannot identify your plant. This strategy of having red to purple coloration in leaves is widely used by a variety of species. In many cases, these pigments are anthocyanins, and they often frost tolerance to the plants that accumulate them (you often see the red color of expanding leaves in the spring on many shrubs). If you can get additional images of the plant, I may be able to assist you with the identification. Best wishes.
