Phytoremediation refers to the ability of certain plants to bioaccumulate, degrade, or render harmless contaminants in soil, water, etc. Wetlands function as kidneys of a landscape as plants in wetlands aid as sinks by uptake of nutrients and heavy metals. The current study focuses on estimating the phytoremediation potential of select wetland plants. Plant samples were collected from inlets and outlets of Jakkur wetlands, Bengaluru on weekly basis. The plants were identified using standard keys based on taxonomic literatures. Plants identified are Typha sp., Cyperus sp., Ludwigia sp., Pistia stratiotes, Polygonum sp., Alternanthera philoxeroides and Spirodela sp., which are perennial. Among these, Typha sp., Cyperus sp., Pistia stratiotes and Spirodela sp. are monocots, and Ludwigia sp., Polygonum sp. and Alternanthera philoxeroides are dicots. These plants showed the uptake of the heavy metals viz., cadmium, zinc, nickel, copper, chromium and lead. During the 1^st week, uptake of Cu and Zn was more by young Typha sp. at inlet and Cr was more at outlet of sampling. The uptake of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni was 1.4, 9.0, 9.4 and 10.0 mg/kg respectively during the 2^nd week of sampling in young Typha sp. shoot. Also, the Pb and Zn uptake was 13.6 and 10.4 mg/kg respectively in the mature Typha sp. during the 3^rd week at outlet of sampling. Ni uptake was 4.0 mg/kg during the 3^rd week of sampling by mature Typha sp. at inlet. The uptake of Pb, Zn and Cd was 12.2, 23.0 and 1.4 mg/kg respectively during the 4^th week of sampling in the mature Typha sp. at outlet. The uptake of Pb, Ni, Cr and Cd was 5.2, 2.4, 12 and 0.8 mg/kg respectively during the 1^st week of sampling in the medium Polygonum sp. The uptake of Zn was 10.2 mg/kg during the 2^nd week in the mature Alternanthera philoxeroides at outlet of sampling. The uptake of Cr was 19.6 mg/kg during the 3^rd week was found to be more by mature Alternanthera philoxeroides at outlet of sampling. The uptake of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr was 2.2, 9.8, 8.6 and 10.2 mg/kg respectively during the 4^th week in young Alternanthera philoxeroides at inlet. Similarly, the uptake of Cr was 13.6 mg/kg from outlet during the 2^nd week in Spirodela sp. The uptake of Cu was 2.4 mg/kg during the 3^rd week in medium Ludwigia sp. at outlet.

Keywords: Phytoremediation, Macrophytes, Physiology, Wetland, Nutrients, Perennial