Calcifuge

Calcifuge

A calcifuge is a plant that does not tolerate alkaline (basic) soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to flee from chalk'. These plants are also described as ericaceous, as the prototypical calcifuge is the genus "Erica" (heaths). It is not the presence of carbonate or hydroxide ions "per se" that these plants cannot tolerate, but the fact that under alkaline conditions, iron becomes less soluble. Consequently, calcifuges grown on alkaline soils often develop the symptoms of iron deficiency, "i.e." interveinal chlorosis of new growth. There are many horticultural plants which are calcifuges, most of which require an 'ericaceous' compost with a low pH, composed principally of "Sphagnum" moss peat. These include heathers, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and most carnivorous plants. Compare calcicole.


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  • calcifuge — [ kalsifyʒ ] adj. • 1877; de calci(o) et fuge ♦ Bot. Qui végète maigrement en sol calcaire. ⇒ silicicole. Les bruyères sont calcifuges. ⊗ CONTR. Calcicole. ● calcifuge ou calciphobe adjectif Se dit des espèces végétales ne pouvant pas se… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • calcifuge — [kal′sə fyo͞oj΄] n. [orig. adj., not growing in limy soil < Fr: see CALCI & FUGE] a plant that grows in soils low in calcareous matter calcifugous [kal sif′yo͞o gəs] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Calcifuge — L adjectif calcifuge (dont les racines latines signifient : « qui fuit le calcaire ») qualifie les plantes qui évitent les terrains calcaires ou à tendance alcaline. On peut également les qualifier d acidophiles ou de silicicoles.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • calcifuge — noun Etymology: French, calcifugous, from calc + Latin fugere to flee more at fugitive Date: 1926 a plant not normally growing on calcareous soils • calcifuge also calcifugous adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • calcifuge — calcifugous /kal sif yeuh geuhs/, adj. /kal seuh fyoohj /, n. any plant incapable of thriving in calcareous soil. Also, calciphobe. [1880 85; CALCI + FUGE] * * * …   Universalium

  • calcifuge — noun Any plant that does not thrive in a soil rich in lime or chalk Ant: calcicole …   Wiktionary

  • calcifuge — (entrée créée par le supplément) (kal si fu j ) adj. Qui fuit les terrains calcaires. •   Plantes calcifuges, CONTEJEAN Acad. des sc. Comptes rendus, t. LXXXI, p. 51. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Lat. calx, chaux, et fugere, fuir …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • calcifuge — [ kalsɪfju:dʒ] noun Botany a plant that is not suited to calcareous soil. Origin C19: from calci + fuge …   English new terms dictionary

  • calcifuge — cal·ci·fuge …   English syllables

  • calcifuge — cal•ci•fuge [[t]ˈkæl səˌfyudʒ[/t]] n. bot any plant incapable of thriving in calcareous soil • Etymology: 1880–85 cal•cif′u•gous ˈsɪf yə gəs adj …   From formal English to slang

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