干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The distribution of the nine metal elements in 20 desert plants was studied in order to detect the indicator value of these plants for mineral prospecting. The plants vary greatly in their ability to absorb and accumulate the elements and so the concentrations vary between species. Plants show a selective absorption of the elements. Selenium was only recorded in eight species, titanium in 11 species. Each species shows considerable variability in accumulation of the elements in different locations. The indicator capacity of Maerua crassifolia, Zilla spinosa and Balanites aegyptiaca to the different elements is revealed.