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Science 24 February 1978:
Vol. 199. no. 4331, pp. 887 - 888
DOI: 10.1126/science.199.4331.887
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Articles

Aeolanthus biformifolius De Wild.: A Hyperaccumulator of Copper from Zaïre

F. MALAISSE 1, J. GREGOIRE 1, R. R. BROOKS 2, R. S. MORRISON 2, and R. D. REEVES 2

1 Faculté des Sciences, Université Nationale du Zaïre, Lubumbashi, Zaïre
2 Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Aeolanthus biformifolius (Labiatae) from Shaba Province, Zaïre, has been shown to be a hyperaccumulator of copper. The copper content of the total plant during the rest period after the rainy season was 1.3 percent (dry weight basis) and is easily the highest copper concentration ever found in living material. This species should be classified as a "copper flower" because of its exclusive occurrence over mineralized ground.

Submitted on September 21, 1977

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)