This list covers hyperaccumulators, plant species which accumulate, or are tolerant of radionuclides (Cd, Cs-137, Co, Pu-238, Ra, Sr, U-234, 235, 238), hydrocarbons and organic solvents (Benzene, BTEX, DDT, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Fluoranthene, MTBE, PCB, PCNB, TCE and by-products), and inorganic compounds (Potassium ferrocyanide).
See also:
Accumulation rates (in mg/kg of dry weight) | Latin name | English name | H-Hyperaccumulator or A-Accumulator P-Precipitator T-Tolerant | Notes | Sources | ||
Cd | Athyrium yokoscense | (Japanese false spleenwort?) | Cd(A), Cu(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Origin Japan | [1] | ||
Cd | >100 | Avena strigosa Schreb. | New-Oat Lopsided Oat or Bristle Oat | [2] | |||
Cd | H- | Bacopa monnieri | Smooth Water Hyssop, Waterhyssop, Brahmi, Thyme-leafed gratiola, Water hyssop | Cr(H), Cu(H), Hg(A), Pb(A) | Origin India; aquatic emergent species | [3] | |
Cd | Brassicaceae | Mustards, mustard flowers, crucifers or, cabbage family | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction | [4] | ||
Cd | A- | Brassica juncea L. | Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A), Zn(H) | cultivated | [5] | ||
Cd | H- | Vallisneria americana | Tape Grass | Cr(A), Cu(H), Pb(H) | Origins Europe and N. Africa; extensively cultivated in the aquarium trade | ||
Cd | >100 | Crotalaria juncea | Sunn or sunn hemp | High amounts of total soluble phenolics | |||
Cd | H- | Eichhornia crassipes | Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb(H), Zn(A). Also Cs, Sr, U[6] and pesticides[7] | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed' | |||
Cd | Helianthus annuus | Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration | [8] | ||||
Cd | H- | Hydrilla verticillata | Cr(A), Hg(H), Pb(H) | ||||
Cd | H- | Lemna minor | Pb(H), Cu(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America and widespread | |||
Cd | T- | Pistia stratiotes | Cu(T), Hg(H), Cr(H) | Pantropical, Origin South U.S.A.; aquatic herb | |||
Cd | Salix viminalis L. | Common Osier, Basket Willow | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalix); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Cd | Spirodela polyrhiza | Giant Duckweed | Cr(H), Pb(H), Ni(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America | [10] [11] | ||
Cd | >100 | Tagetes erecta L. | African-tall | Tolerance only. Lipid peroxidation level increases; activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase are depressed. | |||
Cd | Thlaspi caerulescens | Alpine pennycress | Cr(A), Co(H), Cu(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. Its rhizosphere's bacterial population is less dense than with Trifolium pratense but richer in specific metal-resistant bacteria.[12] | [13] [14] [15] [16] | ||
Cd | 1000 | Vallisneria spiralis | 37 records of plants; origin India | [17] | |||
Cs-137 | Acer rubrum, Acer pseudoplatanus | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Leaves: much less uptake in Larch and Sycamore maple than in Spruce.[18] | ||||
Cs-137 | Agrostis spp. | Agrostis spp. | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | up to 3000 Bq kg-1[19] | Amaranthus retroflexus (cv. Belozernii, aureus, Pt-95) | Redroot Amaranth | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. Can accumulate radionuclides, ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents. Maximum concentration is reached after 35 days of growth. | ||
Cs-137 | Brassicaceae | Mustards, mustard flowers, crucifers or, cabbage family | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents. | |||
Cs-137 | Brassica juncea | Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs-137 in his roots than in the biomass above ground Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents. | |||||
Cs-137 | Cerastium fontanum | Big Chickweed | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | Beta vulgaris, Chenopodiaceae, Kail? and/or Salsola? | Sr-90, Cs-137 | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | Cocos nucifera | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | |||||
Cs-137 | Eichhornia crassipes | U, Sr (high % uptake within a few days). Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A) and pesticides. | |||||
Cs-137 | Eragrostis bahiensis (Eragrostis) | Glomus mosseae as amendment. It increases the surface area of the plant roots, allowing roots to acquire more nutrients, water and therefore more available radionuclides in soil solution. | |||||
Cs-137 | Eucalyptus tereticornis | Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | Festuca arundinacea | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | |||||
Cs-137 | Festuca rubra | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | |||||
Cs-137 | Glomus mosseae as chelating agent (Glomus (fungus)) | Mycorrhizal fungi | Glomus mosseae as amendment. It increases the surface area of the plant roots, allowing roots to acquire more nutrients, water and therefore more available radionuclides in soil solution. | ||||
Cs-137 | Glomus intradices (Glomus (fungus)) | Mycorrhizal fungi | Glomus mosseae as chelating agent. It increases the surface area of the plant roots, allowing roots to acquire more nutrients, water and therefore more available radionuclides in soil solution. | ||||
Cs-137 | 4900-8600[20] | Helianthus annuus | U, Sr (high % uptake within a few days) | Accumulates up to 8 times more Cs-137 than timothy or foxtail. Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs-137 in his roots than in the biomass above ground. | |||
Cs-137 | Larix | Leaves: much less uptake in Larch and Sycamore maple than in Spruce. 20% of the translocated caesium into new leaves resulted from root-uptake 2.5 years after the Chernobyl accident. | |||||
Cs-137 | Liquidambar styraciflua | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | Liriodendron tulipifera | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Cs-137 | Lolium multiflorum | Sr | Mycorrhizae: accumulates much more Cs-137 and Sr-90 when grown in Sphagnum peat than in any other medium incl. Clay, sand, silt and compost.[21] | ||||
Cs-137 | Lolium perenne | Can accumulate radionuclides | |||||
Cs-137 | Panicum virgatum | ||||||
Cs-137 | Phaseolus acutifolius | Tepary Beans | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents | |||
Cs-137 | Phalaris arundinacea L. | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H) Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents. | Phytoextraction | ||||
Cs-137 | Picea abies | Conc. about 25-times higher in bark compared to wood, 1.5–4.7 times higher in directly contaminated twig-axes than in leaves. | |||||
Cs-137 | Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa | Sr-90. Also petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (Pinus spp. | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides. | ||||
Cs-137 | Sorghum halepense | ||||||
Cs-137 | Trifolium repens | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | |||||
Cs-137 | H | Zea mays | High absorption rate. Accumulates radionuclides. Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs137 in his roots than in the biomass above ground. | ||||
Co | 1000 to 4304[22] | Haumaniastrum robertii (Lamiaceae) | Copper flower | 27 records of plants; origin Africa. Vernacular name: 'copper flower'. This species' phanerogamme has the highest cobalt content. Its distribution could be governed by cobalt rather than copper. | |||
Co | H- | Thlaspi caerulescens | Alpine pennycress | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction | ||
Pu-238 | Acer rubrum | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Pu-238 | Liquidambar styraciflua | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Pu-238 | Liriodendron tulipifera | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Ra | No reports found for accumulation | ||||||
Sr | Acer rubrum | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Sr | Brassicaceae | Mustards, mustard flowers, crucifers or, cabbage family | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction | |||
Sr | Beta vulgaris, Chenopodiaceae, Kail? and/or Salsola? | Sr-90, Cs-137 | Can accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Sr | Eichhornia crassipes | Cs-137, U-234, 235, 238. Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A) and pesticides. | In pH of 9, accumulates high concentrations of Sr-90 with approx. 80 to 90% of it in its roots | ||||
Sr | Eucalyptus tereticornis | Forest redgum | Cs-137 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | |||
Sr | H-? | Helianthus annuus | Accumulates radionuclides; high absorption rate. Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration | ||||
Sr | Liquidambar styraciflua | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Sr | Liriodendron tulipifera | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | ||||
Sr | Lolium multiflorum | Italian Ryegrass | Cs | Mycorrhizae: accumulates much more Cs-137 and Sr-90 when grown in Sphagnum peat than in any other medium incl. clay, sand, silt and compost. | |||
Sr | 1.5-4.5 % in their shoots | Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa | Petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cs-137 | Phytocontainment. Accumulate 1.5-4.5 % of Sr-90 in their shoots. | |||
Sr | Apiaceae (a.k.a. Umbelliferae) | Carrot or parsley family | Species most capable of accumulating radionuclides | ||||
Sr | Fabaceae (a.k.a. Leguminosae) | Legume, pea, or bean family | Species most capable of accumulating radionuclides | ||||
U | Amaranthus | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), Zn(H) | Citric acid chelating agent and see note. Cs: maximum concentration is reached after 35 days of growth. | ||||
U | Brassica juncea, Brassica chinensis, Brassica narinosa | Cabbage family | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), Zn(H) | Citric acid chelating agent increases uptake 1000 times,[23] and see note | |||
U-234, 235, 238 | Eichhornia crassipes | Cs-137, Sr-90. Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A), and pesticides. | |||||
U-234, 235, 238 | 95% of U in 24 hours. | Helianthus annuus | Accumulates radionuclides; At a contaminated wastewater site in Ashtabula, Ohio, 4 wk-old splants can remove more than 95% of uranium in 24 hours. Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration. | URL | |||
U | Juniperus | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his roots | |||||
U | Picea mariana | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his twigs | |||||
U | Quercus | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his roots | |||||
U | Kail? and/or Salsola? | Russian thistle (tumble weed) | |||||
U | Salix viminalis | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, Zn (S. viminalis); potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | ||||
U | Silene vulgaris (a.k.a. "Silene cucubalus) | ||||||
U | Zea mays | ||||||
U | A-? | ||||||
Radionuclides | Tradescantia bracteata | Indicator for radionuclides: the stamens (normally blue or blue-purple) become pink when exposed to radionuclides | |||||
Benzene | Chlorophytum comosum | spider plant | [24] | ||||
Benzene | Ficus elastica | rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush | |||||
Benzene | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana | Kalanchoe | seems to take benzene selectively over toluene. | ||||
Benzene | Pelargonium x domesticum | Germanium | |||||
Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | ||||
Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | ||||
Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | ||||
Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, PCP, Pentachloronitro-benzène | Phytostimulation | ||||
Cyclotella caspia Cyclotella caspia | Approximate rate of biodegradation on 1st day: 35%; on 6th day: 85% (rate of physical degradation 5.86% only). | [25] | |||||
Hydrocarbons | Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Mean petroleum hydrocarbons reduction of 68% after 1 year | [26] | ||||
Hydrocarbons | Festuca arundinacea | Mean petroleum hydrocarbons reduction of 62% after 1 year | [27] | ||||
Hydrocarbons | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products. Also Cs-137, Sr-90 | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata) | |||
Hydrocarbons | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, Organic solvents, TCE and by-products. Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa) | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata) | ||||
MTBE | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction, phytocontainment. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Organic solvents | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products. Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa) | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata) | |||
Organic solvents | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. phytocontainment . Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Organic solvents | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products. Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa) | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata) | |||
Organic solvents | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. phytocontainment . Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, PCP | Phytostimulation | ||||
8.64% to 15.67% of initial mass | Salix babylonica L. | Weeping Willow | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (Salix spp.); Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes). No ferrocyanide in air from plant transpiration. A large fraction of initial mass was metabolized during transport within the plant. | |||
Potassium ferrocyanide | 8.64% to 15.67% of initial mass | Hankow Willow, Hybrid Willow | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (Salix spp.); Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis). | No ferrocyanide in air from plant transpiration. | |||
PCB | Rosa spp. | Paul’s Scarlet Rose | Phytodegradation | ||||
PCP | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzène | Phytostimulation | |||
Chlorophytum comosum | spider plant | Seems to lower the removal rates of benzene and methane. | |||||
TCE and by-products | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE. Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa) | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata) | |||
TCE and by-products | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction, phytocontainment. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Musa (genus) | Banana tree | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration.[28] | |||||
Cyperus papyrus | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration | ||||||
Taros | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration | ||||||
Brugmansia spp. | Angel's trumpet | Semi-anaerobic, good for rhizofiltration | [29] | ||||
Caladium | Caladium | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration | |||||
Caltha palustris | Marsh marigold | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration | |||||
Iris pseudacorus | Yellow Flag, paleyellow iris | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration | |||||
Mentha aquatica | Water Mint | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration | |||||
Scirpus lacustris | Bulrush | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration | |||||
Typha latifolia | Broadleaf cattail | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration |