‖ osteocolla
(ˌɒstiːəʊˈkɒlə)
[mod.L. (1565 Gesner), f. osteo- + Gr. κόλλα glue.]
A deposit of carbonate of lime forming an incrustation on the roots and stems of plants: found in sandy ground, esp. in some parts of Germany. Also called glue-bone: see quot. 1663.
| 1661 Lovell Hist. An. & Min. ii. 93 Ostiocolla..is glutinative. 1663 Boyle Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos. ii. xix. 289 It doth so wonderfully cement together the parts of broken and well-set bones, that it deserves the name it commonly hath in the shops of osteocolla. 1799 Kirwan Geol. Ess. iv. 142 One of the roots of a pine tree..converted into the calcareous petrifaction called Osteocolla. 1816 Cleaveland Min. (1822) 176. 1879 Rutley Stud. Rocks xiv. 302 The variety of tufa named osteocolla consists of calcareous deposits around twigs and mosses. |