| Peltigera aphthosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Peltigerales |
| Family: | Peltigeraceae |
| Genus: | Peltigera |
| Species: | P. aphthosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Peltigera aphthosa | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Peltigera aphthosa is a species of lichen known by the common names green dog lichen, leafy lichen, felt lichen, and common freckle pelt. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the Arctic, boreal, and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. [2]
Contents
This lichen has a large thallus that may exceed one meter in width. It is divided into lobes up to about 10 centimeters long and 6 wide. It is green, becoming pale as it dries. The thallus is dotted with cephalodia, which contains one of the two symbionts, a species of Nostoc . The other is a species of Coccomyxa . These perform photosynthesis, and the Nostoc also fixes nitrogen. The lichen produces large apothecia, a reproductive structure. [2]
This widespread lichen grows in a variety of habitat types, including Arctic ecosystems. It grows in alpine climates in the southern parts of its distribution. [2]
This lichen was noted to absorb aluminum and silicon from the ash released from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. [2]
It is a known host to the lichenicolous fungus species Lichenopeltella santessonii . [3]
