Peltigera praetextata

Peltigera praetextata
Peltigera praetextata thallus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Peltigerales
Family:	Peltigeraceae
Genus:	Peltigera
Species:	P. praetextata
Binomial name
Peltigera praetextata (Flörke ex Sommerf.) Zopf (1909)
Synonyms
Peltidea ulorrhiza var. praetextataFlörke ex Sommerf. (1826)

Peltigera praetextata, or the scaly dog pelt lichen, is a foliose lichen native to North America, Europe, and Asia. ^[1] It is defined by small belly-button-like growths called phyllidia on its edges and centre. ^{[2] [3]}

Characteristics

Peltigera praetextata has flat lobes up to 5 cm (2 in) long, and often forms circular growth patterns. ^[1] It is dark green when wet, often with a reddish centre, and greyish when dry. ^[1] It is tomentous, or covered with fine hairs. ^[1] It does not reproduce vegetatively using isidia or soredia like most lichens, but using phyllidia. ^{[2] [3]} It is often fertile as well, with round to saddle-shaped red apothecial discs. ^{[1] [3]}

Ecology

Although often found over moss or tree bark, P. praetextata may also be found on bare soil. It is common throughout temperate and boreal ecosystems. ^[1]

References

1. "CNALH - Peltigera praetextata". lichenportal.org. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
2. rlucking (2015-03-04). "How lichens reproduce with "greenhorn" baby lichens..." Field Museum. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
3. Goward, Trevor; Goffinet, Bernard; Vitikainen, Orvo (2011-02-01). "Synopsis of the genus Peltigera (lichenized Ascomycetes) in British Columbia, with a key to the North American species" . Canadian Journal of Botany. 73: 91–111. doi:10.1139/b95-012.