Question

Why can’t you see all the pigments in a leaf?

Answer 1

The leaf pigments in a plant are- chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanins, xanthophylls, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin etc. plant pigments and their retention are production which determines the colors and leaves before they fall from. Chlorophylls have a variety of pigments like- a, b, c.

Complete answer:
We cannot see pigments from naked eye as there are no such pigments in leaves which can be seen during daylight as the day shortens chlorophyll and other pigments can be visible like carotenoids which give yellow and orange.
We can see only chlorophyll pigments as they appear green in color. Most plants give this color. As because the leaf absorbs all other colors through light and only green light is reflected out because the pigment determined for green is not absorbed.
Also, the green color present which shows in abundance from the surface of leaves masks other pigments like-yellow or orange. It depends on the intensity of light and amount of chlorophyll present in leaves.
Xanthophylls which secrete orange color and phycocyanin and phycoerythrin are also the same providing yellow and orange color to plants. The function of yellow and orange pigments is to assist green pigment for nutrition and growth in plants.

Note:
After all, plants are light producers, by photosynthesis and also control growth and rapid responses to energies. Plant cells which hold chlorophyll absorb other pigments in only green color seen by naked eye and other colors remain in the plant cells.