The electromagnetic spectrum, the entire distribution of electromagnetic radiation according to frequency or wavelength. Radio waves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays are all types of electromagnetic radiation. An absorption spectrum shows all the light typically absorbed by a leaf. An action spectrum, meanwhile, shows all the light that is actually used for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that gives most plants their colour. The reason that it is green is that in the absorption spectra, chlorophyll absorbs light in the red (long wavelength) and the blue (short wavelength) regions of the visible light spectrum. The green light is not absorbed but reflected, making the plant appear green.