Identifying plant biofilters using predictive phylogenetics

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In some regions, outdoor air is heavily polluted by nearby industrial actvities and therefore may not be a good source of fresh air. Plants can enhance indoor air quality but relatively few plant species have been identified as efficient air quality enhancers. This limits the design opportunities for indoor landscape architects. LOH Architects has asked for a more extensive list of plant species than is currently offered by the scientific literature. We will use a combination of ecoinformatic databases and phylogenetic tools to predictively identify plants that are relatively efficient at cleaning indoor air. We expect our system provide a framework for the design of future interior gardens by Canadian architectural, interior design and landscaping firms. Furthermore, this list will identify plants for which more research is required and may generate new partnerships between interior landscaping firms and academia.