Supply and accumulation of metals in two Egyptian desert plant species growing onwadi-fill deposits

Sandy soils of thewadisin the Eastern Desert of Egypt have a poor retentive capacity for metals. The contents of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Al, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn in 37 soils from this area were highly variable. The metal contents of two dominant plant species of the Eastern Desert (Senna alexandrinaandCleome droserifolia) showed no correlation with soil metals. Metals accumulated in the leaves, withCleomehaving overall higher contents of Fe, Al, Mn, Co, Ni, Na and Si thanSenna, even thoughCleometended to grow in soil with low contents of these metals.