Xanthium strumarium L is a candidate species for manganese (Mn)-phyto-remediation. To reveal the mechanism of this species adaptive to Mn stress, the growth, Mn subcellular distribution, chemical forms, as well as micro-structure and ultra-structure responses of the mining ecotype (ME) of X. strumarium to Mn stress were studied with the non-mining ecotype (NME) as the reference by a hydroponic experiment. The results showed the ME demonstrated a higher tolerance to Mn stress with a superior growth and a higher tolerance index (TI) when compared with the NME. The concentrations of Mn in leaves,...