Phytoprospection

Phytoprospection refers to the search for metal-containing soils with the help of indicator plants . These still thrive on soils containing heavy metals , where other plants die due to toxicity . Suitable indicator plants are, for example, the calamine milk ( Viola calaminaria ) as a zinc indicator, the Alpine light carnation ( Silene suecica, syn .: Lychnis alpina L. ) as a copper indicator or the honeysuckle Lonicera confusa as a gold indicator.

Using indicator plants for mining in order to extract precious metals is called biomining , the decontamination of soils and waters containing heavy metals is called phytoremediation .

literature

• Elmar W. Weiler; Lutz Nover. Lim. by Wilhelm Nultsch: General and molecular botany . Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart [u. a.] 2008, ISBN 978-3-13-147661-6 , pp. 236 .