LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/320919
106 Landscape Architect and Specifier News I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 5 6 0 I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 5 6 6 Scientists aptly call the newly discovered plant in the Philippines Rinorea niccolifera, which is descriptive of its nickel-absorbing abilities. Photo: UniverSity of the PhiliPPineS Heavy Metal Plant Scientists from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, have discovered and named a new plant species, Rinorea niccolifera. The plant is able to absorb 18,000 ppm of nickel in its leaves and still survive, according to Prof. Edwino Fernando, lead author of the report. 1 Such a level of nickel absorption is a hundred to a thousand times higher than most plants. This phenomenon, nickel hyperaccumulation, is rare. Only about 0.5–1 percent (450) of the world's 300,000 vascular plant species exhibit this ability in nickel-rich soils. The new species was discovered on the western part of Luzon Island in the Philippines, an area known for soils rich in heavy metals. Hyperaccumulation plants could be a "green assist" in helping remediate site soils contaminated with heavy metals. Such plants could also be used for "green mining": growing and harvesting hyperaccumulation plants to recover commercially valuable metals from the plant shoots. 1. fernando eS, Quimado Mo, Doronila Ai (2014) Rinorea niccolifera (violaceae), a new, nickel- hyperaccumulating species from luzon island, Philippines. PhytoKeys 37: 1–13. doi: Landscape Architect Glen Dake to Metro Water District Board landscape architect Glen Dake, a principal with Dakeluna Consultants http://dakeluna.com, is filling the l.A. County vacancy of Aaron Grunfeld on the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California. MWD is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19 million people in parts of l.A., orange, San Diego, riverside, San Bernardino and ventura counties. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has appointed California licensed landscape architect Glen Dake to the 37-member board of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California. Mr. Dake, a resident of East L.A., has practiced landscape architecture in Southern California since 1987, and active in watershed and groundwater issues. A native of Saratoga Springs, New York, Dake received a BS in landscape architecture from Cornell University. Early in his career he worked as a senior associate for Emmet Wemple, with Design Workshop in Aspen and Denver, as an associate with Andrew Spurlock Martin Poirier Landscape Architects in San Diego, and as a team captain for the SWA Group in Laguna Beach. In 1996, he founded his own practice, working on projects for the Macerich Corp.; L.A. County; L.A. Conservation Corps; the cities of Burbank and West Hollywood and landscapes at Silver Lake Reservoir and Barnsdall Park in Los Angeles. His campus work includes UCLA, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at U.C. San Diego and High Tech High School in L.A. 106.indd 106 5/23/14 2:49 PM