Which one of the following combinations of stalactites and stalagmites occurrences is correct?

Stalactites and stalagmites are common dripstone speleothems found in limestone caves. Stalactites are icicle-shaped mineral deposits that hang from the cave ceiling [1]. They form when water containing dissolved limestone seeps through the roof; as the water evaporates, it leaves behind a lean, inverted cone-like structure growing downwards [2]. Conversely, stalagmites are formed by the remaining water droplets that fall to the cave floor [2]. These droplets evaporate and deposit limestone, causing a thicker and flatter formation to rise up from the floor [2]. Over time, these two formations may grow toward each other and eventually fuse to create a single column or pillar [5]. Therefore, the correct combination describes stalactites hanging as icicles and stalagmites rising from the floor [3].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Landforms and their Evolution > Stalactites, Stalagmites and Pillars > p. 53
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 17: Major Landforms and Cycle of Erosion > Stalactite and Stalagmite > p. 229
3. [5] https://www.britannica.com/science/stalactite
4. [3] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Limestone and Chalk Landforms > Characteristic Features of a Karst Region > p. 78