Calciphilous

Calciphilous is an adjective used in biology and ecology to describe organisms that thrive in calcium-rich environments, especially calcareous soils or substrates composed of calcium carbonate, such as limestone, chalk, or shells. The word derives from Latin calx, calc-, meaning lime or limestone, and Greek philos, loving.

It is commonly applied to plants, lichens, fungi, and other microorganisms that prefer calcareous habitats. Calciphilous organisms may tolerate or require high calcium carbonate concentrations and often show a strong association with calcareous soils, limestones, or chalk outcrops. In plants, calciphilous species are typically found in calcareous grasslands, limestone pavements, and other limestone landscapes; in fungi and algae, calcareous substrates support distinctive communities.

Calciphilous is related to, but not identical with, calcicole. Calcicole generally refers to organisms that require calcium-rich conditions, while calciphilous can denote a broader affinity for calcium-rich environments, including tolerance or habitual association with calcareous substrates rather than strict reliance.

In practice, identifying calciphilous taxa aids habitat management, restoration, and biodiversity surveys in limestone regions and other calcareous ecosystems. The term appears in ecological and botanical literature to characterize the relationships between organisms and their calcium-rich environments. See also calcicole, calcareous soil, limestone habitats.