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 Edit this 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. praetextata Flörke ex Sommerf. (1826)

Characteristics

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "CNALH - Peltigera praetextata". lichenportal.org. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  2. ^ a b rlucking (2015-03-04). "How lichens reproduce with "greenhorn" baby lichens..." Field Museum. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  3. ^ a b c 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.