Plants are the foundation of phytotechnology. Microbes are very important as well, but we usually have less choice with them, other than managing the suitable habitat. Periodically, we will offer a story about a plant that is useful in phytotechnology applications.
Cornus sericea - Red Twig Dogwood
As we approach autumn in the United States, Red Twig Dogwood really shines with its bright red presence in the landscape. It is a woody shrub growing up to 8 feet tall (with some dwarf cultivars in the horticultural trade), flowering white in the spring and favored as animal browse and habitat. Though it is often less used in phytotechnology research, compared to other woody shrubs such as Salix sp., it nevertheless shares some of the same characteristics that make these shrubs useful here. You can propagate Cornus from unrooted stem/pole cuttings in wet environments, and it is tolerant of a wide range of wet to dry soil conditions. And as you can see in the photos, Red Twig Dogwood’s root system can be quite extensive, especially in floating wetland systems. This shrub is particularly useful in applications focusing on water treatment or ecosystem service restoration. The highly ornamental qualities are just a great bonus! Post-harvest secondary uses for this plant include fiber for weaving and biofuel feedstock.
Plants will not tolerate certain conditions. Too much pollution, water, salt or other variables can kill the plants in the system. Water solubility of the pollutants effects the system. Plants also have mechanisms to halt the uptake of substances and may not remove a contaminate completely in an acceptable time frame.