The Pelt Lichens

These are about two dozen of the species of Peltigera found in North America. Go here for keys and more photos.

Green-Algal Species

Peltigera aphthosa
(silver-lined freckle-pelt)

Peltigera britannica
(flaky freckle-pelt)

Peltigera conspersa
(not officially described yet!)

Peltigera leucophlebia
(ruffled freckle-pelt)

Peltigera malacea
(apple pelt) (Taxonomically, this belongs with the rest of the green-algal species, despite its lack of green algae. It is essentially a green-algal species whose cyanomorph became the dominant form, eventually losing the chloromorph altogether. Note how this species looks much like the cyanomorph of P. apthosa.)

Peltigera venosa
(fan pet) (Taxonomically speaking, this species belongs all by itself, but I include it here as the only other species with green algae and cephalodia.)

Isidiate and Sorediate Species

Peltigera evansiana
(peppered pelt)

Peltigera didactyla
(temporary pelt)

Peltigera extenuata
(sheepish pelt) (The three species above actually belong in the canina group, but it is convenient to separate out the isidiate and sorediate species into a separate artificial group.)

Peltigera collina
(tree pelt) (Apparently, this species belongs in the horizontalis group, according to the latest research by Miadlikowska & Lutzoni 2000.)

Canina Group

Peltigera canina
(dog pelt)

Peltigera membranacea
(diamond pelt)

Peltigera cinnamomea
(cinnamon pelt)

Peltigera praetextata
(scaly pelt)

Peltigera ponojensis
(pale-bellied pelt)

Peltigera rufescens
(field pelt)

Peltigera retifoveata
(sponge pelt) (Taxonomically, this belongs in its own group, but I include it here because of its tomentose surface and overall appearance.)

Polydactylon Group

Peltigera polydactylon
(many-fingered pelt)

Peltigera neopolydactyla
(carpet pelt)

Peltigera scabrosa
(rough pelt)

Horizontalis Group

Peltigera horizontalis
(flat-fruited pelt)

Peltigera elisabethae
(concentric pelt)

Peltigera neckerii
(black saddle)

Peltigera phyllidiosa
(scaly pelt)