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:            -

Synonyms:                    Peltigera polydactyla (pre-1980)

Habitat:                         Heathland, grassland, open woodland                      

Substrata:                     Base-rich sandy or stony soils (often amongst mosses)                    

Growth form:                Terricolous (muscicolous)                                

Thallus type:                  Foliose

Apothecia:                    Lecanorine, 'finger-shaped'

BLS identity rating:        Graded 1/5 (identification should be straightforward)

Thallus typically spreading from 10-20cm across; lobes 1-2cm broad, overlapping and somewhat palmately divided, turning up or in-rolled at the margins.

Upper surface dull to slightly lustrous, smooth not felty; sometimes with a few small swellings, but not bullate; older growth, often, but not always with a few slash-like cracks.

Colour greyish to grey-brown when dry, turning distinctly brownish to dark green when moist.

Underside ochre-coloured, at least in part, but usually quite extensively in the marginal region, before becoming darker towards the centre of the thallus; with wide, flat, rather feint ochre-coloured veins that stretch to the margins.

Rhizines pale to tan-coloured, simple and unbranched although very often frayed; normally separated and widely dispersed.

Strangely, although rather dependent on which description you read, apothecia are considered to be scarce or even rare as, possibly due to the location, the species is often sterile; otherwise, apothecia regarded as common or certainly frequent; tall and 'finger-shaped', up to 5mm x 3mm, with a distinctive pale orange-brown to red-brown colour; on short extensions at the lobe margins.

Peltigera hymenina is a common and widespread species, most likely to be found amongst short grass, especially alongside footpaths, often growing with mosses and other lichens; also, on mossy tree trunks and rocks; in various habitats including heathland, grassland and open woodland. It is the most common pelt lichen in the New Forest, recorded from most of the dry grassland areas.

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.