Calcifuge

Acalcifugeis aplantthat does not toleratealkaline(basic) soil.The word is derived from theLatin'to flee from chalk'. These plants are also described asericaceous,as the prototypical calcifuge is the genusErica(heaths). It is not the presence ofcarbonateorhydroxideionsper sethat these plants cannot tolerate, but the fact that under alkaline conditions,ironbecomes less soluble. Consequently, calcifuges grown on alkaline soils often develop the symptoms of iron deficiency,i.e.interveinalchlorosisof new growth. There are many horticultural plants which are calcifuges, most of which require an 'ericaceous'compostwith a lowpH,composed principally ofSphagnummosspeat.Alternativelysulphurchips may be used to lower soil pH.

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

Examples

Order Ericales

Ericaceae

• Andromeda polifolia
• Calluna(common heather)
• Cassiope lycopodioides
• Daboecia
• Enkianthus campanulatus
• Erica(but notE. carneaorE. erigena)
• Gaultheria mucronata
• Kalmia latifolia(calico bush)
• Pieris
• Rhododendron(many species of rhododendron and azalea)
• Vaccinium corymbosum(northern highbush blueberry)
• Vaccinium myrtillus(bilberry)

Sarraceniaceae(carnivorous)

• Pitcher plantsof the generaSarracenia,Darlingtonia,andHeliamphora

Styracaceae

• Styrax wilsonii

Theaceae

• Camellia sinensis(Tea plant)

Order Caryophyllales

Droseraceae(carnivorous)

• Drosera(sundew species; but some species are calcitolerant or calciphilous)
• Dionaea muscipula(Venus flytrap)

Nepenthaceae(carnivorous)

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

Order Lamiales

Lentibulariaceae(carnivorous)

• Utriculariasect. Calpidisca and some other subgenera (non-epiphytic terrestrial bladderworts; there are some species that prefer neutral pH or are calciphilous)

Other orders

Asteraceae

• Arnica montana

Columelliaceae

• Desfontainia spinosa

Cornaceae

• Cornus florida(dogwood)

Elaeocarpaceae

• Crinodendron hookerianum

Fagaceae

• Quercus(Some species of oak)

Gentianaceae

• Gentiana acaulis
• Gentiana sino-ornata

Hamamelidaceae

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

Papaveraceae

• Meconopsis grandis(Himalayan blue poppy)

Poaceae

• Avena sativa(oat)

Proteaceae

• Embothrium coccineum
• Grevillea rosmarinifolia

Schisandraceae

• Illicium anisatum

External links

• Tyler, G. 1996. Mineral nutrient limitations of calcifuge plants in phosphate sufficient limestone soil. Annals of Botany. 77 (6) 649-656.