This article covers known hyperaccumulators, accumulators or species tolerant to the following: Aluminium (Al), Silver (Ag), Arsenic (As), Beryllium (Be), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Mercury (Hg), Molybdenum (Mo), Naphthalene, Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se) and Zinc (Zn).
See also:
Accumulation rates (in mg/kg dry weight) | Binomial name | English name | H-Hyperaccumulator or A-Accumulator P-Precipitator T-Tolerant | Notes | Sources | ||
Al | A- | Agrostis castellana | highland bentgrass | As(A), Mn(A), Pb(A), Zn(A) | Origin: Portugal. | [1] | |
Al | 1000 | Hordeum vulgare | 25 records of plants. | [2] | |||
Al | Hydrangea spp. | Hydrangea (a.k.a. Hortensia) | |||||
Al | Aluminium concentrations in young leaves, mature leaves, old leaves, and roots were found to be 8.0, 9.2, 14.4, and 10.1 mg g1, respectively.[3] | Melastoma malabathricum L. | Blue Tongue, or Native Lassiandra | P competes with Al and reduces uptake.[4] | |||
Al | Solidago hispida (Solidago canadensis L.) | Hairy Goldenrod | Origin Canada. | ||||
Al | 100 | Vicia faba | |||||
Ag | 10-1200 | Salix miyabeana | Willow | Ag(T) | Seemed able to adapt to high concentrations on a long timeline | [5] | |
Ag | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Cr, Hg, Pb, Se, Zn | Phytoextraction | [6] | ||
Ag | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbures, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalix);[7] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[8] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Ag | Amanita strobiliformis | European Pine Cone Lepidella | Ag(H) | Macrofungi, Basidiomycete. Known from Europe, prefers calcareous areas | [9] | ||
Ag | 10-1200 | Brassica juncea | Indian Mustard | Ag(H) | Can form alloys of silver-gold-copper | [10] | |
As | 100 | Agrostis capillaris L. | Common Bent Grass, Browntop. (= A. tenuris) | Al(A), Mn(A), Pb(A), Zn(A) | |||
As | H- | Agrostis castellana | Highland Bent Grass | Al(A), Mn(A), Pb(A), Zn(A) | Origin Portugal. | ||
As | 1000 | Agrostis tenerrima Trin. | Colonial bentgrass | 4 records of plants | [11] | ||
As | 2-1300 | Cyanoboletus pulverulentus | Ink Stain Bolete | contains dimethylarsinic acid | Europe | [12] | |
As | 27,000 (fronds)[13] | Pteris vittata L. | Ladder brake fern or Chinese brake fern | 26% of As in the soil removed after 20 weeks' plantation, about 90% As accumulated in fronds.[14] | Root extracts reduce arsenate to arsenite.[15] | ||
As | 100-7000 | Sarcosphaera coronaria | pink crown, violet crown-cup, or violet star cup | As(H) | Ectomycorrhizal ascomycete, known from Europe | [16] [17] | |
Be | No reports found for accumulation | ||||||
Cr | Azolla spp. | mosquito fern, duckweed fern, fairy moss, water fern | [18] | ||||
Cr | H- | Bacopa monnieri | Smooth Water Hyssop, Water hyssop, Brahmi, Thyme-leafed gratiola | Cd(H), Cu(H), Hg(A), Pb(A) | Origin India. Aquatic emergent species. | [19] | |
Cr | Brassica juncea L. | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A), Zn(H) | Cultivated in agriculture. | [20] | |||
Cr | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Ag, Hg, Pb, Se, Zn | Phytoextraction | |||
Cr | A- | Vallisneria americana | Tape Grass | Cd(H), Pb(H) | Native to Europe and North Africa. Widely cultivated in the aquarium trade. | ||
Cr | 1000 | Dicoma niccolifera | 35 records of plants | ||||
Cr | roots naturally absorb pollutants, some organic compounds believed to be carcinogenic,[21] in concentrations 10,000 times that in the surrounding water.[22] | Eichhornia crassipes | Cd(H), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb(H), Zn(A). Also Cs, Sr, U,[23] and pesticides.[24] | Pantropical/Subtropical. Plants sprayed with 2,4-D may accumulate lethal doses of nitrates.[25] 'The troublesome weed' – hence an excellent source of bioenergy. | |||
Cr | Helianthus annuus | Sunflower | |||||
Cr | A- | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla | Cd(H), Hg(H), Pb(H) | |||
Cr | Medicago sativa | Alfalfa | [26] | ||||
Cr | Pistia stratiotes | Water lettuce | Cd(T), Hg(H), Cr(H), Cu(T) | [27] | |||
Cr | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbures, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalix); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Cr | Salvinia molesta | Kariba weeds or water ferns | Cr(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(A) | [28] | |||
Cr | Spirodela polyrhiza | Cd(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America. | ||||
Cr | 100 | Jamesbrittenia fodina Hilliard Sutera fodina Wild | [29] [30] | ||||
Cr | A- | Thlaspi caerulescens | Alpine Pennycress, Alpine Pennygrass | Cd(H), Co(H), Cu(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. T. caerulescens may acidify its rhizosphere, which would affect metal uptake by increasing available metals[31] | [32] [33] [34] | |
Cu | 9000 | Aeollanthus biformifolius | [35] | ||||
Cu | Athyrium yokoscense | (Japanese false spleenwort?) | Cd(A), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Origin Japan. | |||
Cu | A- | Azolla filiculoides | Pacific mosquitofern | Ni(A), Pb(A), Mn(A) | Origin Africa. Floating plant. | ||
Cu | H- | Bacopa monnieri | Smooth Water Hyssop, Water hyssop, Brahmi, Thyme-leafed gratiola | Cd(H), Cr(H), Hg(A), Pb(A) | Origin India. Aquatic emergent species. | ||
Cu | Brassica juncea L. | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A), Zn(H) | cultivated | ||||
Cu | H- | Vallisneria americana | Tape Grass | Cd(H), Cr(A), Pb(H) | Native to Europe and North Africa. Widely cultivated in the aquarium trade. | ||
Cu | Eichhornia crassipes | Cd(H), Cr(A), Hg(H), Pb(H), Zn(A), Also Cs, Sr, U, and pesticides. | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed'. | ||||
Cu | 1000 | Haumaniastrum robertii (Lamiaceae) | Copper flower | 27 records of plants. Origin Africa. This species' phanerogam has the highest cobalt content. Its distribution could be governed by cobalt rather than copper.[36] | |||
Cu | Helianthus annuus | ||||||
Cu | 1000 | Larrea tridentata | Creosote Bush | 67 records of plants. Origin U.S. | |||
Cu | H- | Lemna minor | Pb(H), Cd(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America and widespread worldwide. | |||
Cu | Ocimum centraliafricanum | Copper plant | Cu(T), Ni(T) | Origin Southern Africa | [37] | ||
Cu | T- | Pistia stratiotes | Water Lettuce | Cd(T), Hg(H), Cr(H) | Pantropical. Origin South U.S.A. Aquatic herb. | ||
Cu | Thlaspi caerulescens | Alpine pennycress, Alpine Pennycress, Alpine Pennygrass | Cd(H), Cr(A), Co(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. Cu noticeably limits its growth. | |||
Mn | A- | Agrostis castellana | Highland Bent Grass | Al(A), As(A), Pb(A), Zn(A) | Origin Portugal. | ||
Mn | Azolla filiculoides | Pacific mosquitofern | Cu(A), Ni(A), Pb(A) | Origin Africa. Floating plant. | |||
Mn | Brassica juncea L. | ||||||
Mn | 23,000 (maximum) 11,000 (average) leaf | Chengiopanax sciadophylloides (Franch. & Sav.) C.B.Shang & J.Y.Huang | koshiabura | Origin Japan. Forest tree. | [38] | ||
Mn | Helianthus annuus | ||||||
Mn | 1000 | Macadamia neurophylla (now Virotia neurophylla (Guillaumin) P. H. Weston & A. R. Mast) | 28 records of plants | [39] | |||
Mn | 200 | ||||||
Hg | A- | Bacopa monnieri | Smooth Water Hyssop, Water hyssop, Brahmi, Thyme-leafed gratiola | Cd(H), Cr(H), Cu(H), Hg(A), Pb(A) | Origin India. Aquatic emergent species. | ||
Hg | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Ag, Cr, Pb, Se, Zn | Phytoextraction | |||
Hg | Eichhornia crassipes | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Pb(H), Zn(A). Also Cs, Sr, U, and pesticides. | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed'. | ||||
Hg | H- | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla | Cd(H), Cr(A), Pb(H) | |||
Hg | 1000 | Pistia stratiotes | Water lettuce | Cd(T), Cr(H), Cu(T) | 35 records of plants | [40] | |
Hg | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Se, petroleum hydrocarbures, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalix); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | |||
Mo | 1500 | Thlaspi caerulescens (Brassicaceae) | Alpine pennycress | Cd(H), Cr(A), Co(H), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | phytoextraction | ||
Festuca arundinacea | Tall Fescue | Increases catabolic genes and the mineralization of naphthalene. | [41] | ||||
Trifolium hirtum | Pink clover, rose clover | Decreases catabolic genes and the mineralization of naphthalene. | |||||
Pb | A- | Agrostis castellana | Al(A), As(H), Mn(A), Zn(A) | Origin Portugal. | |||
Pb | Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Ragweed | |||||
Pb | Armeria maritima | Seapink Thrift | |||||
Pb | Athyrium yokoscense | (Japanese false spleenwort?) | Cd(A), Cu(H), Zn(H) | Origin Japan. | |||
Pb | A- | Azolla filiculoides | Pacific mosquitofern | Cu(A), Ni(A), Mn(A) | Origin Africa. Floating plant. | ||
Pb | A- | Bacopa monnieri | Smooth Water Hyssop, Water hyssop, Brahmi, Thyme-leafed gratiola | Cd(H), Cr(H), Cu(H), Hg(A) | Origin India. Aquatic emergent species. | ||
Pb | H- | Brassica juncea | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A), Zn(H) | 79 recorded plants. Phytoextraction | [42] | ||
Pb | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, Zn | Phytoextraction | |||
Pb | Brassica oleracea | Ornamental Kale and Cabbage, Broccoli | |||||
Pb | H- | Vallisneria americana | Tape Grass | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(H) | Native to Europe and North Africa. Widely cultivated in the aquarium trade. | ||
Pb | Eichhornia crassipes | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Zn(A). Also Cs, Sr, U, and pesticides. | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed'. | ||||
Pb | Festuca ovina | Blue Sheep Fescue | |||||
Pb | Ipomoea trifida | ||||||
Pb | H- | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla | Cd(H), Cr(A), Hg(H) | |||
Pb | H- | Lemna minor | Cd(H), Cu(H), Zn(H) | Native to North America and widespread worldwide. | |||
Pb | Salix viminalis | Cd, U, Zn, Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbures, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (S. spp.); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | ||||
Pb | H- | Salvinia molesta | Kariba weeds or water ferns | Cr(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(A) | Origin India. | ||
Pb | Spirodela polyrhiza | Cd(H), Cr(H), Ni(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America. | ||||
Pb | Thlaspi caerulescens (Brassicaceae) | Alpine pennycress, Alpine pennygrass | Cd(H), Cr(A), Co(H), Cu(H), Mo(H), Ni(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction. | |||
Pb | Thlaspi rotundifolium | Round-leaved Pennycress | |||||
Pb | Triticum aestivum | Common Wheat | |||||
Se | .012-20 | Amanita muscaria | Cap contains higher concentrations than stalks[43] | ||||
Se | Brassica juncea | Rhizosphere bacteria enhance accumulation.[44] | |||||
Se | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Ag, Cr, Hg, Pb, Zn | Phytoextraction. | |||
Se | Low rates of selenium volatilization from selenate-supplied Muskgrass (10-fold less than from selenite) may be due to a major rate limitation in the reduction of selenate to organic forms of selenium in Muskgrass. | Chara canescens Desv. & Lois | Muskgrass | Muskgrass treated with selenite contains 91% of the total Se in organic forms (selenoethers and diselenides), compared with 47% in Muskgrass treated with selenate.[45] 1.9% of the total Se input is accumulated in its tissues; 0.5% is removed via biological volatilization.[46] | [47] | ||
Se | Bassia scoparia (a.k.a. Kochia scoparia) | burningbush, ragweed, summer cypress, fireball, belvedere and Mexican firebrush, Mexican fireweed | U, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ag, Zn | Perchlorate (wetland halophytes). Phytoextraction. | |||
Se | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, petroleum hydrocarbures, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes). | |||
Zn | A- | Agrostis castellana | Highland Bent Grass | Al(A), As(H), Mn(A), Pb(A) | Origin Portugal. | ||
Zn | Athyrium yokoscense | (Japanese false spleenwort?) | Cd(A), Cu(H), Pb(H) | Origin Japan. | |||
Zn | Brassicaceae | Mustards, mustard flowers, crucifers or cabbage family | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H) | Phytoextraction | |||
Zn | Brassica juncea L. | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A). | Larvae of Pieris brassicae do not even sample its high-Zn leaves. (Pollard and Baker, 1997) | ||||
Zn | Brassica napus | Rapeseed plant | Ag, Cr, Hg, Pb, Se | Phytoextraction | |||
Zn | Helianthus annuus | ||||||
Zn | Eichhornia crassipes | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb(H). Also Cs, Sr, U, and pesticides. | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed'. | ||||
Zn | Salix viminalis | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products; Cd, Pb, U (S. viminalis); Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.) | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes). | ||||
Zn | A- | Salvinia molesta | Kariba weeds or water ferns | Cr(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(A) | Origin India. | ||
Zn | 1400 | Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke (Caryophyllaceae) | Ernst et al. (1990) | ||||
Zn | Spirodela polyrhiza | Cd(H), Cr(H), Ni(H), Pb(H) | Native to North America. | ||||
Zn | H-10,000 | Thlaspi caerulescens (Brassicaceae) | Alpine pennycress | Cd(H), Cr(A), Co(H), Cu(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H) | 48 records of plants. May acidify its own rhizosphere, which would facilitate absorption by solubilization of the metal | ||
Zn | Trifolium pratense | Red Clover | Nonmetal accumulator. | Its rhizosphere is denser in bacteria than that of Thlaspi caerulescens, but T. caerulescens has relatively more metal-resistant bacteria. |
Cs-137 activity was much smaller in leaves of larch and sycamore maple than of spruce: spruce > larch > sycamore maple.