Multiple choice

Bioremediation is the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Which among the following ferns is used as a potential bioremediation plant for absorbing arsenic from the soil?

  1. C-fern

  2. Tree fern

  3. Brake fern

  4. Vegetable fern

  5. Licorice fern

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Brake fern was discovered to have the ability to hyperaccumulate (absorb large amounts of) arsenic from soil. The fern was growing at a central Florida site contaminated with large amounts of copper arsenate in the soil. The discovery may lead to the use of this fern as a potential bioremediation plant.