Peltigera praetextata

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]

Peltigera praetextata
Peltigera praetextata thallus
Scientific classification
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. praetextata Flörke ex Sommerf. (1826)

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]