This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[Gk., to drop.] A stalk of lime hanging from a limestone cave. It is due to water carrying lime which makes its way through the cave roof, and evaporates, leaving the lime hanging like an icicle. Stalagmite is the stalk of lime on the floor of the cave which has dropped in water from the roof.
 
Continue to: