Peltigera malacea (Ach.) Funck, 1827 group
| Common name | Veinless Pelt |
|---|---|
| Code | PELTMAL grp. |
| Field Characters | Large leafy bipartite cyanolichens. Thalli to 15 cm across, composed of individual lobes ascending and overlapping, sometimes covering > 1 m square. Lobes 1-3 cm wide, relatively thick, and branching sparingly but regularly. Upper surface plane with upturned lobe tips, grey to greenish-brown when dry, blue-grey to dark forest green when wet. Often with sparse erect tomentum on the lobe tips and sometimes pruina, but otherwise upper cortex smooth. Lower cortex lacking, lower surface typically lacking veins or with indistinct, broad veins. Rhizines sparse. Apothecia red-brown, saddle-shaped, rare. Vegetative propagules lacking. When dry the thallus is stick and cardboard-like. |
| Similar species |
Peltigera apthose & P. leucophlebia photomorphs: it can be very difficult to detect the photomorphs if they are not associated with their tripartite form. Some literature suggests they have extensive maculae. Regardless, they are apparently rare. |
| Ecology | Typically on nutrient-poor soil or mosses in mature to old-growth conifer dominated forests. Present in foothills, mountain, boreal, and shield sites, absent from parkland and grassland. |
| Chemistry | Not investigated. |
| Molecular support |
High, represented by 5 well-supported molecular clades. We continue to work to understand how these clades differ morphologically and ecologically. |
| Links | |
| Gallery |
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- Peltigera malacea group
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- Peltigera malacea group with apothecia
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- Peltigera malacea group, upper surface wet and dry, ALTA collection
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- Peltigera malacea group, lower surface with indistinct veins and sparse rhizines, ALTA collection
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- Peltigera malacea group colony, Kananaskis region, AB
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- Peltigera malacea group colony
