NICKEL-HUNGRY FLORA: Endemic plant seen as a “revolutionary” way in metal extraction

Luzon’s lush forests harbor an extraordinary species with a rare ability—one that could change the way scientists approach environmental restoration and metal extraction.

Rinorea niccolifera, a plant endemic to Zambales, has stunned researchers with its natural capability to accumulate extraordinarily high levels of nickel in its tissues, a trait that classifies it as a hyperaccumulator.

The discovery, led by a team of researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños under the leadership of taxonomist and professor Edwino Fernando, was published in the scientific journal PhytoKeys. 

Fernando and his team found the plant flourishing in the nickel-rich soils of Zambales, where it grows as a small tree, ranging from 1.5 to 8 meters in height. 

Its physical characteristics include a smooth outer bark, simple leaves arranged in two rows, and delicate cream or white flowers.

Hyperaccumulators are a rare category of plants capable of absorbing and storing heavy metals at concentrations significantly higher than ordinary vegetation. 

According to the New Phytologist Foundation, only about 0.5 to 1 percent of plant species that thrive in metal-rich soils exhibit this remarkable adaptation. 

In the case of new species, its nickel uptake reaches over 18,388 micrograms per gram of dry leaf tissue—far beyond what normal plants can tolerate.

Rinorea niccolifera’s capabilities are vast, particularly in the fields of phytoremediation and phytomining. 

Phytoremediation involves the use of plants to detoxify contaminated soil by absorbing pollutants such as heavy metals, while phytomining seeks to extract valuable metals from hyperaccumulator plants for commercial use. 

Given the rising demand for nickel—a crucial component in batteries, stainless steel, and various electronic devices—this botanical marvel offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mining methods, which are often destructive to ecosystems.