Metal accumulation by some plants growing on zinc-mine deposits

Zinc accumulation by Thlaspi cepeaefolium (Wulfen) Koch, Biscutella levigata L. and Anthyllis vulneraria L. growing on calamine soils was studied in shoots, leaves and roots at different times during one season. Measurements were made polarographically. A. vulneraria and B. levigata accumulate the highest ammounts of zinc in the roots and leaves during spring: the metal is then removed and translocated to the shoots. T. cepeaefolium always shows the lowest zinc accumulation in the roots, suggesting that in this species there is no metal inactivation by root cells.