A red pigment found in certain plants, particularly in some algae and leaves that contain red-colored photosynthetic compounds.
From Greek erythro- (red) + -phyll (leaf). Named for red-colored pigmentation in plant leaves and chloroplasts, similar to chlorophyll but with different chemical properties.
Erythrophyll in red algae and some plant leaves helps them absorb blue and green light that chlorophyll misses, allowing these plants to live in deeper water or shadier places where other plants can't compete—it's evolution's answer to poor lighting.
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