read full here ----------------> . Scientists discover metal-eating plant in Philippines : SCIENCE : Tech Times . . A metal-eating plant has been discovered on an island in the Philippines. While most plants and other life forms are poisoned by high levels of nickel, this bizarre plant thrives on the metal. This bizarre life form was found by researchers from the University of the Phillipines. Nickel is a source of sustenance for these plants, which can accumulate concentrations of the metal up to 18,000 parts per million (ppm) in their leaves, without experiencing any toxic side effects. This is 1,000 times more than most other plants can safely store. This unusual ability, found in fewer than one percent of plant species, is called nickel hyperaccumulation. Rinorea niccolifera is one of only about 450 species of plant known to use metals as part of their normal lifestyle. Another plant known to exhibit this behavior are Thlapsi, a genus of herb that is common in China, and throughout southern and eastern areas of Europe. This species consumes calcium and zinc in addition to nickel. Gomphrena claussenii was discovered in 2013, by researchers from the Netherlands and Brazil. This species, native to areas around Minas Gerais, Brazil, can consume large quantities of zinc. Many of the plants are living happily near highly- contaminated mines in the region.
