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Calcifuge

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A calcifuge is a plant that does not tolerate alkaline (basic) soil.[1] 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.

A plant that thrives in lime-rich soils is known as a calcicole.

Examples[2]

Order Ericales

Ericaceae

Sarraceniaceae (carnivorous)

  • Pitcher plants of the genera Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, and Heliamphora

Styracaceae

  • Styrax wilsonii

Theaceae

Order Caryophyllales

Droseraceae (carnivorous)

Nepenthaceae (carnivorous)

  • Nepenthes (pitcher plants; but some species are calcitolerant or even calciphilous)

Order Lamiales

Lentibulariaceae (carnivorous)

  • Utricularia (bladderworts; but some species are calcitolerant or calciphilous)

Other orders

Asteraceae

Columelliaceae

Cornaceae

Elaeocarpaceae

  • Crinodendron hookerianum

Fagaceae

Gentianaceae

Hamamelidaceae

  • Corylopsis pauciflora
  • Disanthus cercidifolius
  • Fothergilla major
  • Hamamelis vernalis (spring witch hazel)

Papaveraceae

  • Meconopsis grandis (Himalayan blue poppy)

Poaceae

Proteaceae

Schisandraceae

References

  1. ^ Shorter Oxford English dictionary, 6th ed. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 978-0199206872.
  2. ^ Collins complete garden manual. United Kingdom: HarperCollins. 1998. p. 336. ISBN 0004140109.

External links



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