Earth's star, the sun, radiates heat and light that makes life on our planet possible. Green plants intercept sunlight and transform it into food energy that supports all life on Earth. This makes them primary producers - without them, there would be nothing else.
When sunlight hits the green pigment in plant tissues (chlorophyll), photosynthesis occurs, a process in which water and carbon dioxide are transformed into simple sugars that can be used to make starches, proteins, fats, vitamins, and other nutrients that trap the sun's energy. Water is also produced and oxygen is released, an essential gas used by plants and animals during respiration.
Photosynthesis is our planet's major source of atmospheric oxygen.
Plants provide animals with food, shelter and oxygen. All plants use oxygen when they transpire, but they produce more oxygen than they consume and they take in more carbon dioxide than they produce.
Green plants are the link between the sun and the rest of life on Earth. Energy flows from sun to plants to animals. We are very thankful to our plants.
