Phycobilins are also closely related to the chromophores of the light-detecting plant pigment phytochrome, which also consist of an open chain of four pyrroles.

The plant pigment phytochrome was discovered using a spectrograph that used living plants as the detector.

Excessive consumption of lycopene, a plant pigment similar to carotene and present in tomatoes, can cause a deep orange discoloration of the skin.

Healthy chickens absorb more plant pigments from their diet.

Plant pigments include a variety of different kinds of molecules, including porphyrins, carotenoids, and anthocyanins.