Metallophyte

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Metallophytes are plants that can tolerate high levels of heavy metals in soil, such as lead. They lie on a spectrum: obligate metallophytes can only survive where metals are present, while facultative metallophytes tolerate metals but can also live in normal soil. In Europe, examples include alpine pennycress (Thlaspi caerulescens), zinc violet (Viola calaminaria), spring sandwort (Minuartia verna), sea thrift (Armeria maritima), Cochlearia, common bent (Agrostis capillaris), Dover catchfly (Silene paradoxa) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata). Few metallophytes are known from Latin America. They are often found as specialized plants on mine spoil heaps and other contaminated sites. These plants have potential for phytoremediation, using them to clean up polluted ground.