Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environment friendly method for cleaning metal(loid)s from contaminated soils. Species with exceptionally higher shoot metal concentrations (hyperaccumulators) seem ideal for phytoremediation, though some metal tolerant species with ‘above normal’ values with higher translocation factor (TF) may also serve the purpose. Halophytes not only remove salts and metalloids from soils but may also be cultivated as non-conventional crops. Nurturing halophytes requires precise understanding of their nature and efficient management for sustainable use. Species with low metal concentrations in their edible parts (especially leaves) may be grown as forage and fodder, but those with metal hyperaccumulation could prove fatal due to their serious health hazards. Like other metallophytes, redundant use of the term ‘metal hyperaccumulation’ among halophytes needs to be revisited for its ambiguity and potential pitfalls. Similarly, understanding of metal tolerance and shoot accumulation nature of halophytes is needed prior to their use. This review is an attempt to compare halophytes with potential of metal bioindication, phytostabilization and hyperaccumulation (as per definition) as well as their ‘obligate’ and ‘facultative’ nature for appropriate uses.

植物修复是一种从污染土壤中清除金属（类物质）的经济有效且环境友好的方法。枝条金属浓度异常高的物种（超富集植物）似乎是植物修复的理想选择，尽管一些具有“高于正常”值且易位因子 (TF) 较高的耐金属物种也可能达到目的。盐生植物不仅可以去除土壤中的盐分和类金属，还可以作为非常规作物进行种植。培育盐生植物需要准确了解其性质和可持续利用的有效管理。可食用部分（尤其是叶子）中金属含量低的物种可以作为草料和饲料种植，但那些具有金属过度积累的物种可能会因严重的健康危害而被证明是致命的。像其他金属植物一样，盐生植物中“金属超富集”一词的重复使用需要重新审视其含糊不清和潜在的陷阱。同样，在使用盐生植物之前，需要了解其金属耐受性和枝条积累性质。这篇综述试图比较盐生植物与金属生物指示、植物稳定和超积累（根据定义）的潜力以及它们的“专性”和“兼性”性质以供适当使用。