Biology:Calcicole

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Short description: Guild of plants

A calcicole, calciphyte or calciphile is a plant that thrives in lime rich soil.[1][2] The word is derived from the Latin 'to dwell on chalk'. Under acidic conditions, aluminium becomes more soluble and phosphate less. As a consequence, calcicoles grown on acidic soils often develop the symptoms of aluminium toxicity, i.e. necrosis, and phosphate deficiency, i.e. anthocyanosis (reddening of the leaves) and stunting.

A plant that thrives in acid soils is known as a calcifuge.

A plant thriving on sand (which may be acidic or calcic) is termed psammophilic or arenaceous (see also arenite).

Examples of calcicole plants

References

  1. Anon. "Calcicole". The World Dictionary. Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/calcicole. Retrieved 18 February 2012. 
  2. Anon. "Calciphile". Merriam Webster free dictionary. Merriam Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calciphile. Retrieved 18 February 2012.