**2. General characteristics of vetiver (***Chrysopogon zizanioides***)**

Vetiver belonging to the Poaceae family, native to India [19]. Is one of the few species of grass that meets all the criteria necessary to eliminate contaminants [28]. Regarding its morphological characteristics, it's a tall grass (1–2 m) with abundant vegetative growth, characterized by a massive, finely structured and deep root apparatus, capable of reaching 3–4 m deep in the first year [27]. For this trait, vetiver grass is well known for its effectiveness in controlling erosion and sediments [30].

It has long, narrow leaves that produce a thick growth barrier that cuts and separates runoff water. This type of growth also allows vetiver to act as an effective filter by trapping sediments and contaminants linked to them such as heavy metals and some pesticide residues [31]. One of the most useful physiological characteristics of vetiver is its high tolerance to high concentrations of heavy metals such as Al, B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Se, Tl, V, and Zn [12, 13, 19, 31, 32]. In **Figure 2**, shows a summary of the morphological characteristics of vetiver plant, and heavy metals to tolerant.

Some studies mention that the dense and finely structured root of this plant creates an ideal environment for microbiological processes in the rhizosphere, these characteristics also make vetiver a good alternative for stabilizing river banks and road embankments and preventing erosion [31]. However, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness in water and soil conservation, particularly in the treatment of wastewater, were only recognized in the decade of the 80s when its outstanding physiological and morphological characteristics were identified [31], but these distinctive features, make it an effective phytoremediator species for the treatment of various types of contaminants; also these attributes, together with its high biomass production, type of reproduction, and adaptations to climate changes, also make vetiver an ideal species for the phytoremediation not only of soil but also of artificial systems such as wetlands [12].

**Figure 2.** *Morphological characteristics of vetiver (*C. zizainoides*).*

*Phytoremediation Potential of* Chrysopogon zizanioides *for Toxic Elements in Contaminated… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98235*
