A bit of a sensationalist headline, I’m afraid — I had hoped for giant Venus Fly Traps going around munching on cars and discarded rebar. This is still pretty interesting, though:
A new plant species with an unusual lifestyle – it eats nickel for a living – has been discovered, according to a recent study.Scientists from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños have discovered Rinorea niccolifera, a plant species that accumulates up to 18,000 ppm of the metal in its leaves without poisoning itself, according to Edwino Fernando, lead author of the report and professor, said in a statement.Nickel hyperaccumulation is such a rare phenomenon with only about 0.5 to 1 percent of plant species native to nickel-rich soils having been recorded to exhibit the ability.
In addition to just being plain interesting, this could be helpful for humans, too: plants that accumulate heavy metals can be used to clean up contaminated sites.
Check out the original article here.
