New Species of Metal-Eating Plant Has “Great Potential” for Green Technology

Researchers at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, suggest the plant Rinorea niccolifera absorbs nickel, 18,000 parts per million, in its leaves, about 1000 times more metal than present in most other plants. The study was published in the journal PhytoKeys. Researchers expect such properties, available in about 1 percent or less of all plants, could aid in the development of green technologies to remove contaminants from the environment, reports Philip Ross for International Business Times. National Geographic suggests that about 350 species are known to accumulate nickel, zinc, copper and manganese in high concentrations. Other researchers hope to “mine” plants for valuable metals. Ross concludes: “Scientists aren’t sure exactly why some plants absorb much more metal, but they believe it could be a kind of defense mechanism to keep animals from eating them.” – YaleGlobal