Identifying a hyperaccumulator is an important groundwork for the phytoextraction of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Celosia argentea Linn., which grew on a Mn tailing wasteland, was found to hyperaccumulate Mn (14 362 mg kg(-1) in leaf dry matter) in this study. To investigate Mn tolerance and accumulation in C argentea, a hydroponic culture experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Results showed that the biomass and the relative growth rate of C. argentea were insignificantly different (p > 0.05) at the Mn supply level ranging from 2.5 mg L-1 (control) to 400 mg L-1. Manganese concentrations in leaves, stems, and roots reached maxima of 20228, 8872, and 2823 mg kg(-1) at 600 mg Mn L-1, respectively. The relative rate of Mn accumulation increased by 91.2% at 400 mg Mn L-1. Over 95% of the total Mn taken up by C argentea was translocated to shoots. Thus, C argentea exhibits the basic characteristics of a Mn-hyperaccumulator. This species has great potential to remediate Mn-contaminated soil cheaply and can also aid the studies of Mn uptake, translocation, speciation, distribution and detoxification in plants. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.