Contaminant | 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 | [1][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. | Indian mustard | Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), U(A), Zn(H) | cultivated | [1][4][5] |
Cd | H- | Vallisneria americana | Tape Grass | Cr(A), Cu(H), Pb(H) | Origins Europe and N. Africa; extensively cultivated in the aquarium trade | [1] |
Cd | >100 | Crotalaria juncea | Sunn or sunn hemp | | High amounts of total soluble phenolics | [2] |
Cd | H- | Eichhornia crassipes | Water Hyacinth | Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb(H), Zn(A). Also Cs, Sr, U[6] and pesticides[7] | Pantropical/Subtropical, 'the troublesome weed' | [1] |
Cd | | Helianthus annuus | Sunflower | | Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration | [1][4][8] |
Cd | H- | Hydrilla verticillata | Hydrilla | Cr(A), Hg(H), Pb(H) | | [1] |
Cd | H- | Lemna minor | Duckweed | Pb(H), Cu(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America and widespread | [1] |
Cd | T- | Pistia stratiotes | Water lettuce | Cu(T), Hg(H), Cr(H) | Pantropical, Origin South U.S.A.; aquatic herb | [1] |
Cd | | Salix viminalis L. | Common Osier, Basket Willow | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalix);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [8] |
Cd | | Spirodela polyrhiza | Giant Duckweed | Cr(H), Pb(H), Ni(H), Zn(A) | Native to North America | [1][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. | [2] |
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] | [1][4][10][13][14][15][16] |
Cd | 1000 | Vallisneria spiralis | Eel grass | | 37 records of plants; origin India | [10][17] |
Cs-137 | | Acer rubrum, Acer pseudoplatanus | Red maple, Sycamore maple | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Leaves: much less uptake in Larch and Sycamore maple than in Spruce.[18] | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Agrostis spp. | Agrostis spp. | | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
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)[4] | Phytoextraction. Can accumulate radionuclides, ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents.[6] Maximum concentration is reached after 35 days of growth.[19] | |
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.[6] | [4] |
Cs-137 | | Brassica juncea | Indian mustard | | Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs-137 in his roots than in the biomass above ground[19] Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents. | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Cerastium fontanum | Big Chickweed | | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Beta vulgaris, Chenopodiaceae, Kail? and/or Salsola? | Beet, Quinoa, Russian thistle | Sr-90, Cs-137 | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Cocos nucifera | Coconut palm | | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Eichhornia crassipes | Water hyacinth | U, Sr (high % uptake within a few days[6]). Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A)[1] and pesticides.[7] | | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Eragrostis bahiensis (Eragrostis) | Bahia lovegrass | | 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. | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Eucalyptus tereticornis | Forest redgum | Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Festuca arundinacea | Tall fescue | | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Festuca rubra | Fescue | | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
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. | [6] |
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. | [6] |
Cs-137 | 4900-8600[20] | Helianthus annuus | Sunflower | U, Sr (high % uptake within a few days[6]) | Accumulates up to 8 times more Cs-137 than timothy or foxtail. Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs-137 in its roots than in the biomass above ground.[19] | [1][6][10] |
Cs-137 | | Larix | Larch | | 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.[18] | |
Cs-137 | | Liquidambar styraciflua | American Sweet Gum | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip tree | Pu-238, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Lolium multiflorum | Italian Ryegrass | 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] | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Lolium perenne | Perennial ryegrass | | Can accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Panicum virgatum | Switchgrass | | | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Phaseolus acutifolius | Tepary Beans | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H)[4] | Phytoextraction. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents[6] | |
Cs-137 | | Phalaris arundinacea L. | Reed canary grass | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Sr(H), Zn(H)[4] Ammonium nitrate and ammonium chloride as chelating agents.[6] | Phytoextraction | |
Cs-137 | | Picea abies | Spruce | | Conc. about 25-times higher in bark compared to wood, 1.5–4.7 times higher in directly contaminated twig-axes than in leaves.[18] | |
Cs-137 | | Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa | Monterey Pine, Ponderosa pine | Sr-90. Also petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (Pinus spp.[4] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides. | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Sorghum halepense | Johnson Grass | | | [6] |
Cs-137 | | Trifolium repens | White Clover | | Grass or Forb species capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
Cs-137 | H | Zea mays | Corn | | High absorption rate. Accumulates radionuclides.[16] Contains 2 to 3 times more Cs137 in his roots than in the biomass above ground.[19] | [1][6][10] |
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.[22] | [10][14] |
Co | H- | Thlaspi caerulescens | Alpine pennycress | Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(H), Mo, Ni(H), Pb(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction | [1][4][10][12][13][14][15] |
Pu-238 | | Acer rubrum | Red maple | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Pu-238 | | Liquidambar styraciflua | American Sweet Gum | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Pu-238 | | Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip tree | Cs-137, Sr-90 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Ra | | | | | No reports found for accumulation | [10] |
Sr | | Acer rubrum | Red maple | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Sr | | Brassicaceae | Mustards, mustard flowers, crucifers or, cabbage family | Cd(H), Cs(H), Ni(H), Zn(H) | Phytoextraction | [4] |
Sr | | Beta vulgaris, Chenopodiaceae, Kail? and/or Salsola? | Beet, Quinoa, Russian thistle | Sr-90, Cs-137 | Can accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Sr | | Eichhornia crassipes | Water Hyacinth | Cs-137, U-234, 235, 238. Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A)[1] and pesticides.[7] | In pH of 9, accumulates high concentrations of Sr-90 with approx. 80 to 90% of it in its roots[20] | [6] |
Sr | | Eucalyptus tereticornis | Forest redgum | Cs-137 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Sr | H-? | Helianthus annuus | Sunflower | | Accumulates radionuclides;[16] high absorption rate. Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration | [1][4][6][10] |
Sr | | Liquidambar styraciflua | American Sweet Gum | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
Sr | | Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip tree | Cs-137, Pu-238 | Tree able to accumulate radionuclides | [6] |
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.[21] | [6] |
Sr | 1.5-4.5 % in their shoots | Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa | Monterey Pine, Ponderosa pine | Petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Cs-137 | Phytocontainment. Accumulate 1.5-4.5 % of Sr-90 in their shoots.[20] | [6] |
Sr | | Apiaceae (a.k.a. Umbelliferae) | Carrot or parsley family | | Species most capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
Sr | | Fabaceae (a.k.a. Leguminosae) | Legume, pea, or bean family | | Species most capable of accumulating radionuclides | [6] |
U | | Amaranthus | Amaranth | Cd(A), Cr(A), Cu(H), Ni(H), Pb(H), Pb(P), Zn(H) | Citric acid chelating agent[8] and see note. Cs: maximum concentration is reached after 35 days of growth.[19] | [1][6] |
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,[8][23] and see note | [1][4][6] |
U-234, 235, 238 | | Eichhornia crassipes | Water Hyacinth | Cs-137, Sr-90. Also Cd(H), Cr(A), Cu(A), Hg(H), Pb, Zn(A),[1] and pesticides.[7] | | [6] |
U-234, 235, 238 | 95% of U in 24 hours.[19] | Helianthus annuus | Sunflower | | Accumulates radionuclides;[16] At a contaminated wastewater site in Ashtabula, Ohio, 4 wk-old splants can remove more than 95% of uranium in 24 hours.[19] Phytoextraction & rhizofiltration. | [1][4][6][8][10]URL |
U | | Juniperus | Juniper | | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his roots[20] | [6] |
U | | Picea mariana | Black Spruce | | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his twigs[20] | [6] |
U | | Quercus | Oak | | Accumulates (radionuclides) U in his roots[20] | [6] |
U | | Kail? and/or Salsola? | Russian thistle (tumble weed) | | | |
U | | Salix viminalis | Common Osier | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Cd, Pb, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [8] |
U | | Silene vulgaris (a.k.a. "Silene cucubalus) | Bladder campion | | | |
U | | Zea mays | Maize | | | |
U | A-? | | | | | [10] |
Radionuclides | | Tradescantia bracteata | Spiderwort | | Indicator for radionuclides: the stamens (normally blue or blue-purple) become pink when exposed to radionuclides | [6] |
Benzene | | Chlorophytum comosum | spider plant | | | [24] |
Benzene | | Ficus elastica | rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush | | | [24] |
Benzene | | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana | Kalanchoe | | seems to take benzene selectively over toluene. | [24] |
Benzene | | Pelargonium x domesticum | Germanium | | | [24] |
BTEX | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | [4] |
DDT | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | [4] |
Dieldrin | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzene, PCP | Phytostimulation | [4] |
Endosulfan | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, PCP, Pentachloronitro-benzène | Phytostimulation | [4] |
Fluoranthene | | 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. | Bermuda grass | | Mean petroleum hydrocarbons reduction of 68% after 1 year | [26] |
Hydrocarbons | | Festuca arundinacea | Tall fescue | | Mean petroleum hydrocarbons reduction of 62% after 1 year[8] | [27] |
Hydrocarbons | | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products.[4] Also Cs-137, Sr-90[6] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata)[6] | [4] |
Hydrocarbons | | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [4] |
MTBE | | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, Organic solvents, TCE and by-products.[4] Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa)[6] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata)[6] | [4] |
MTBE | | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, TCE and by-products;[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction, phytocontainment. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [4] |
Organic solvents | | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products.[4] Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa)[6] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata)[6] | [4] |
Organic solvents | | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. phytocontainment . Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [4] |
Organic solvents | | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products.[4] Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa)[6] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata)[6] | [4] |
Organic solvents | | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, MTBE, TCE and by-products;[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. phytocontainment . Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [4] |
PCNB | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, PCP | Phytostimulation | [4] |
Potassium ferrocyanide | 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.);[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes). No ferrocyanide in air from plant transpiration. A large fraction of initial mass was metabolized during transport within the plant.[9] | [9] |
Potassium ferrocyanide | 8.64% to 15.67% of initial mass | Salix matsudana Koidz, Salix matsudana Koidz x Salix alba L. | Hankow Willow, Hybrid Willow | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE, TCE and by-products (Salix spp.);[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis).[8] | No ferrocyanide in air from plant transpiration. | [9] |
PCB | | Rosa spp. | Paul's Scarlet Rose | | Phytodegradation | [4] |
PCP | | Phanerochaete chrysosporium | White rot fungus | DDT, BTEX, Dieldrin, Endodulfan, Pentachloronitro-benzène | Phytostimulation | [4] |
TCE | | Chlorophytum comosum | spider plant | | Seems to lower the removal rates of benzene and methane. | [24] |
TCE and by-products | | Pinus spp. | Pine spp. | Petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE.[4] Also Cs-137, Sr-90 (Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa)[6] | Phytocontainment. Tree able to accumulate radionuclides (P. ponderosa, P. radiata)[6] | [4] |
TCE and by-products | | Salix spp. | Osier spp. | Ag, Cr, Hg, Se, petroleum hydrocarbons, organic solvents, MTBE;[4] Cd, Pb, U, Zn (S. viminalis);[8] Potassium ferrocyanide (S. babylonica L.)[9] | Phytoextraction, phytocontainment. Perchlorate (wetland halophytes) | [4] |
| | Musa (genus) | Banana tree | | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration.[28] | |
| | Cyperus papyrus | Papyrus | | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration[28] | |
| | | Taros | | Extra-dense root system, good for rhizofiltration[28] | |
| | Brugmansia spp. | Angel's trumpet | | Semi-anaerobic, good for rhizofiltration | [29] |
| | Caladium | Caladium | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |
| | Caltha palustris | Marsh marigold | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |
| | Iris pseudacorus | Yellow Flag, paleyellow iris | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |
| | Mentha aquatica | Water Mint | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |
| | Scirpus lacustris | Bulrush | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |
| | Typha latifolia | Broadleaf cattail | | Semi-anaerobic and resistant, good for rhizofiltration[29] | |