calcicolous

9.9

Growing in soil that is rich in limestone or chalk

adjective
/ˌkæl.sɪˈkoʊ.ləs/

Specialized

: calcícola

Several species found in the meadow are calcicolous and flourish in the area’s chalky soils.

Examples

Some calcicolous mosses only survive in limestone-rich environments.
The restoration project focused on reintroducing calcicolous plants to the ancient quarry.
The calcicolous plants thrive in limestone-rich areas.
Are there any calcicolous species in this region?
Several species found in the meadow are calcicolous and flourish in the area’s chalky soils.
Some calcicolous mosses only survive in limestone-rich environments.
The restoration project focused on reintroducing calcicolous plants to the ancient quarry.

Antonyms

calcifugous

Specialized

9.9

A plant that prefers acid soil and does not grow well in soil with lime

Surface Forms

calcicolous positive

Morphology

calcicolous = calci + col + ous

Although the form can be parsed into classical elements meaning roughly 'lime-dwelling', these are bound forms rather than familiar English words, so an average B1 learner would not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Calcicolous comes from two parts: calci- from a Latin word for 'lime', the same root as calcium, and -colous meaning 'living in', related to colony. So a calcicolous plant 'lives in lime', which is why the word is used for plants that grow in lime-rich soil.