Yes, they are leaves!
Anthurium: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Anthurium
The shiny, vivid red of anthurium brightens up our living room all year round. For a long time, I thought the red part was a flower. Actually, its flowers are tiny clusters contained in spike-shaped spadix. The vivid red part is a special type of leaf.
Poinsettia: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Poinsettia
In this holiday season, how can you decorate your house without poinsettia? The high contrast between the velvety green leaves and the deep red flowers is stunning! Well, the red part is not a flower, either. That’s also a special type of leaf.
If the red parts are also leaves, do they have chlorophyll? Do they do photosynthesis? Why are they in different colors from the normal leaves?
Many questions aside, no doubt there exists such a stark contrast in a single plant. These plants are much more interesting, and they inspire my imagination to create various Ikebana arrangements. Thank you very much, Mother Nature!
Ikebana arrangement with anthurium: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Ikebana arrangement with poinsettia: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa