Alchemy: What does the colored text mean?

[JohnJSal]

Can someone explain what the different colored text means for each element? Should this be obvious? It seems to be more than an association with certain elements. Or even if just that, does it help you figure out new combinations, or just indicate what's already been combined?

Thanks.

 

[wayrad]

It's been a while since I played, but it seemed related to the general nature of the element - for example, plants had green text or background, I don't remember which, and supernatural entities had a lot of red in there. It didn't provide any clues as to how they could be combined.