Plants that clean up: heavy metal hyperaccumulators

Last updated: 5 Dec, 2017

Hyperaccumulators are unusual. Able to absorb much larger amounts of metal compounds in their leaves and stems than normal plants, they are very useful for cleaning up contaminated land. Now researchers have published a database that provides easier access to information on the plant world’s hyperaccumulators.

Image from author: the famous blue latex of the New Caledonian tree Pycnandra acuminatathat contains 25% nickel.

Writing in New Phytologist, the researchers describe the new Global Hyperaccumulator Database. The database contains data on 721 species of hyperaccumulators, and the researchers hope that it will expand as more discoveries are made.

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Mike Whitfield (@mgwhitfield)
Development Coordinator
New Phytologist