Phyllanthus balgooyi

Phyllanthus balgooyi is a shrub that is known to draw out nickel from the soil and concentrate the metal in its sap. For this reason, it is called a phytoaccumulator. It is a plant that can accumulate heavy metals like nickel. 

This plant can be found in many parts of Palawan, especially on those areas known have nickel deposits. In other countries, plants like this are being used to remedy the soil of toxic heavy metals. Phytoaccumulators like phyllanthus balgooyi is thus very important in maintaining a healthy ecology in the province of Palawan.

The Palawan State University is proposing detailed studies on plants like phyllanthus as well as three or four other species known to be able to accummulate heavy metals. These plants are special because they have a high threshold limit in retaining the heavy metals compared to other plants which cannot tolerate high concentrations of heavy metals. Thus, this plant is an important species for phytoremediation purposes, meaning, removal or remediation of areas with high quantities of heavy metal. I described this function in more detail in my articlesbase post titled Phytoremediation Technology: Hope for Reclaiming Denuded Lands.