Phytonining is a process used to extract metals, particularly nickel, from lateritic ores using plants. This method involves the cultivation of specific plants that naturally absorb and accumulate metals from the soil, which can then be harvested and processed to recover the desired metals. Phytonining is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional mining methods, as it reduces the ecological impact and can be applied to low-grade ores that are otherwise economically unfeasible to process.