Calcicolous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing a plant or organism that thrives specifically in soil or rock rich in calcium carbonate, such as limestone or chalk
2. Living or growing preferentially on lime-rich ground, where the soil has a high concentration of calcium
3. Characterizing species that favor alkaline, chalky substrates and are generally unable to tolerate acidic conditions

Etymology: "Calcicolous" is a plain technical formation: "calci-", from Latin "calx" (lime, limestone, or calcium), joined to "-colous", from Latin "colere" (to inhabit, dwell, or cultivate). Put together, the word describes an organism that dwells on calcium-rich ground. The second element is the more revealing one. "Colere" also gave English words such as "cult" and "colony", and the same root lies behind "agriculture", where the idea of tending or cultivating the land is clear. Words ending in "-colous" follow this pattern: "silicolous" for plants of silica-rich soils, "arenicolous" for those living in sand. The suffix works like a label that tells you where the creature makes its home.

Synonyms: calciphilous

Antonyms: calcifuge