ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > PELTIGERALES > Peltigeraceae

Genus Peltigera, meaning 'carrying a light shield' - from the shape of the type apothecia but,

collectively, members of the genus are commonly referred to as Pelt Lichens.

Common name:            Dog-lichen

Synonyms:                    -

Habitat:                         Dry grassland, heathland, stabilised shingle, dunes

Substrata:                     Acidic to slightly basic and impoverished sandy soils

Growth form:                Terricolous (typically amongst short grass and mosses)          

Thallus type:                  Foliose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine, 'saddle-shaped'

BLS identity rating:        Graded 2/5 (visual identification possible with care)

Thallus generally compact, typically forming radiating patches up to 20cm across; comprising large, rounded lobes to 3cm broad that are shallowly scalloped, more or less flat, although sometimes lightly upturned along the side margins, but nearly always down-turned at the tips.

Upper surface unevenly wrinkled and/or bullate with elongated swellings caused by the underlaying flattened veins; evenly felty, sometimes with extensive white tomentose.

Colour pale grey when dry, turning grey-brown to reddish grey-brown or somewhat bluish-brown when moist (resulting from the blue-green algal layer).

Underside almost white, darkening centrally, with smooth, pale, rather flattened veins.

Rhizines abundant and crowded, especially around the thallus margins, variable in both shape and size, some long and thin, but mostly in confluent, irregularly branched tufts with brush-like pointed tips, with an overall bushy and shaggy appearance.

Apothecia can be scarce in this species but, where present, on the lobe margins, short and broad, somewhat 'saddle-shaped' with flat to lightly concave discs; brown-reddish to dark brown or almost black.

Peltigera canina is a widespread, but local species of dry acid grasslands and basic impoverished sandy soils; in general, much rarer than Peltigera membranacea, although that species occurs in different habitats.  

NB. this 'species account' and accompanying photos will be regularly reviewed, refined and/or amended as further samples are found and inspected - I believe the details are correct, but I'm also mindful that, in some cases, the source information varies, even to the point of being slightly contradictory, so I want to ensure the page is as accurate as possible.