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A survey was undertaken, in arsenic (As) contaminated area of the Nadia district, West Bengal, India, to find native As accumulator plants. As was determined both in soil and plant parts. The results showed that the mean translocation factor ofPteris vittataL,Phragmites karka(Cav.) Trin. Ex. Steud andChristella dentataForssk were higher than 1. It thus appeared that these plants can be efficient accumulators of As. Phytoremediation ability ofC. dentataandP. karkawas evaluated and compared with known As-hyperaccumulators -P. vittataandAdiantum capillus venerisL. Plants were grown in the As spiked soil (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg−1). As accumulation was found to be highest inP. vittata, 117.18 mg kg−1in leaf at 100 mg kg−1As treatment, followed byA. capillus veneris,P. karkaandC. dentatabeing 74, 83.87 and 40.36 mg kg−1, respectively. Lipid peroxidation increased after As exposure in all plants. However, the antioxidant enzyme activity and molecules concentration also increased which helped the plants to overcome As-induced oxidative stress. The study indicates thatP. karkaandC. dentatacould be considered as As-accumulators and find application for As-phytoextraction in field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]