Studies on uptake of heavy metals by the Scandinavian ‘Kisplanten’Lychnis alpina andSilene dioica

Pot trials onLychnis alpina, L. alpina var. serpentinicola, andSilene dioica were carried out on these ‘kisplanten’ (pyrite plants) to determine their uptake and tolerance of copper, lead, nickel and zinc. The tolerance and uptake of all four heavy metals was far greater for both varieties ofL. alpina than forS. dioica thus casting doubt onS. dioica being a true ‘kisplante’. There were no detectable differences between both varieties ofL. alpina indicating that var. serpentinicola may only be a stunted form ofL. alpina possibly not warranting varietal ranking. Uptake of copper, lead and nickel was very great in the case ofL. alpina. Plant-soil correlations for nickel were very highly significant in the case of both varieties ofL. alpina so that this taxon has an obvious role in biogeochemical prospecting. To describeL. alpina as a ‘copper flower’ is an oversimplification of a complex situation. The species is probably a true pyrite plant with tolerance to all of the major components of sulphide ore deposits.