Metallophyte
A metallophyte is a plant that can tolerate high levels of heavy metals such as lead. Such plants range between "obligate metallophytes", and "facultative metallophytes" which can tolerate such conditions but are not confined to them.
European examples include alpine pennycress, the zinc violet, spring sandwort, sea thrift, Cochlearia, common bent and plantain. Few metallophytes are known from Latin America.
Metallophytes commonly exist as specialised flora found on spoil heaps of mines.
Such plants have potential for use for phytoremediation of contaminated ground.
