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Common Names

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More info for the term: lichen

common freckle pelt
felt lichen
green dog lichen
leafy lichen
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Description

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More info for the term: lichen

Common freckle pelt is a foliose lichen with a large thallus, sometimes
over 3 feet (1 m) across. Individual lobes are up to 4 inches (10 cm)
long and 2.5 inches (6 cm) broad. The thallus is bright green when
moist and pale smoky green when dry. The upper surface is covered with
small cephalodia. Apothecia are large and common [11,16,17,39]. The
mycobiont (Ascomycete) comprises the bulk of the thallus; the algal
component constitutes only 3 to 5 percent of the volume of the
structure. Common freckle pelt has two photosynthetic members: a green
alga in the genus Coccomyxa, and a blue-green cyanobacteria in the genus
Nostoc. Both are capable of fixing carbon dioxide photosynthetically,
which may be of competitive advantage in habitats of low annual
insolation where P. aphthosa characteristically occurs. The Nostoc
member is contained in the cephalodia and is capable of nitrogen
fixation [1,9,14,32,37].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

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Common freckle pelt is a circumpolar species in arctic, boreal, and
temperate zones. In North America it is distributed throughout Canada
and Alaska; south to the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, the Great
Lakes states, New England, and in the Appalachians to North Carolina
[16,17,32,39].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Ecology

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More info for the terms: fire regime, lichens

Common freckle pelt does not generally occur in recently burned areas
[21,26]. Lichens, including common freckle pelt, are highly flammable under dry
conditions because they desiccate when relative humidity drops [12].
The fact that common freckle pelt commonly grows on humus or moss renders it
highly liable to destruction by fire [26].

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Management Considerations

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More info for the terms: cover, lichen, lichens, litter, shrub, tree, tundra

Lichens often serve as an initial point of ignition in woodlands and
tundra, and have an essential role in the spread of fire. Lichens dry
rapidly during periods of low relative humidity because of their absence
of roots and water storage tissue, and low resistance to water loss.
Dry lichens resemble dead litter more than live tissue in their
susceptibility to fire. Continuous lichen mats present an uninterrupted
surface along which fire spreads. They typically accumulate tree and
shrub litter, which adds to their flammability [3].

The slow growth of lichens is widely recognized [2,38]. Lichen mats may
take 70 to 100 years to regain former abundance [34]. However, some
studies indicate that fire may increase lichen cover, especially where a
thick moss carpet has developed [43]. In the northern boreal lichen
belt, lichen mats may be increased by burning sphagnum peatlands, black
spruce muskegs and forests, or tundra heaths. Fires in these
communities results in lichen mats in some 40 to 50 years. Because
black spruce and mosses occur in later seres than do lichens, good
lichen growth persists for at least 100 years [2].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat characteristics

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More info for the term: lichens

Lichens, including common freckle pelt, are very dependent on high relative
humidity, and their abundance is generally in direct relation to the
relative humidity. They are better adapted to cold climates than any
other life form. Lichens grow best in direct sun. Since common freckle pelt is
able to take up moisture from the air, the underlying soil is not as
important a source of moisture as it is to vascular plants. Peltigera
aphthosa can grow on shallow, sterile soils [2]. It occurs in
submontane to alpine zones on sites with subxeric to subhydric moisture
regimes [5,19,22]. Common freckle pelt can endure more shade than most
lichens [26]. It most commonly occurs on soil, rock, humus, moss, or
fallen log substrates in moist forests [6,11,16,32,39]. It more rarely
inhabits dry woodlands [2].
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bibliographic citation
Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Cover Types

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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

1 Jack pine
5 Balsam fir
12 Black spruce
13 Black spruce - tamarack
16 Aspen
18 Paper birch
30 Red spruce - yellow birch
31 Red spruce - sugar maple - beech
32 Red spruce
33 Red spruce - balsam fir
34 Red spruce - Fraser fir
35 Paper birch - red spruce - balsam fir
38 Tamarack
107 White spruce
201 White spruce
202 White spruce - paper birch
203 Balsam poplar
204 Black spruce
205 Mountain hemlock
206 Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir
207 Red fir
208 Whitebark pine
210 Interior Douglas-fir
212 Western larch
213 Grand fir
215 Western white pine
217 Aspen
218 Lodgepole pine
221 Red alder
222 Black cottonwood - willow
223 Sitka spruce
224 Western hemlock
225 Western hemlock - Sitka spruce
226 Coastal true fir - hemlock
227 Western redcedar - western hemlock
228 Western redcedar
229 Pacific Douglas-fir
230 Douglas-fir - western hemlock
251 White spruce - aspen
252 Paper birch
253 Black spruce - white spruce
254 Black spruce - paper birch
256 California mixed subalpine
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES11 Spruce - fir
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch
FRES19 Aspen - birch
FRES20 Douglas-fir
FRES22 Western white pine
FRES23 Fir - spruce
FRES24 Hemlock - Sitka spruce
FRES25 Larch
FRES26 Lodgepole pine
FRES28 Western hardwoods
FRES37 Mountain meadows
FRES44 Alpine
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: bog, forest

K001 Spruce - cedar - hemlock forest
K002 Cedar - hemlock - Douglas-fir forest
K003 Silver fir - Douglas-fir forest
K004 Fir - hemlock forest
K007 Red fir forest
K008 Lodgepole pine - subalpine forest
K012 Douglas-fir forest
K013 Cedar - hemlock - pine forest
K014 Grand fir - Douglas-fir forest
K015 Western spruce - fir forest
K025 Alder - ash forest
K052 Alpine meadows and barren
K093 Great Lakes spruce - fir forest
K094 Conifer bog
K095 Great Lakes pine forest
K096 Northeastern spruce - fir forest
K106 Northern hardwoods
K107 Northern hardwoods - fir forest
K108 Northern hardwoods - spruce forest
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Immediate Effect of Fire

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Lichens, including common freckle pelt, are killed by fire [26].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

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Although common freckle pelt is commonly found on central Alaskan rangelands, it
is not a preferred forage species for caribou [18].
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bibliographic citation
Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Key Plant Community Associations

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More info for the terms: bog, cover, lichen, lichens, shrub, tundra, tussock

Common freckle pelt occurs in various habitats, including open and closed
coniferous forests, lichen woodlands, bogs, and high arctic, low arctic,
sedge tussock, and shrub tundra [5,20,29,31,42]. In the southern extent
of its range, common freckle pelt is generally restricted to alpine regions.
The following publication classifies common freckle pelt as a dominant ground
cover species in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and white spruce (Picea
glauca) habitats:

Vegetation types and environmental factors associated with Foothills Gas
Pipeline Route, Yukon Territory [36]

Shrub species commonly associated with common freckle pelt include bog Labrador
tea (Ledum groenlandicum), prickly rose (Rosa acicularis), bunchberry
(Cornus canadensis), bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), twinflower
(Linnaea borealis), mountain cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), bog
blueberry (V. uliginosum), American green alder (Alnus viridis ssp.
crispa), dwarf arctic birch (Betula nana), and willows (Salix spp.).

Other associates include bluejoint reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis),
sheathed cottonsedge (Eriophorum vaginatum), horsetails (Equisetum
spp.), sedges (Carex spp.), mosses (Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium
schreberi, Sphagnum spp.), and other lichens (mainly Cladonia spp.)
[7,24,27,30,33].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Life Form

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More info for the term: lichen

Lichen
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management considerations

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More info for the terms: forest, lichens

Common freckle pelt can fix "considerable" amounts of nitrogen [9].
Optimum fixation occurs in autumn at temperatures of 68 to 86 degrees
Fahrenheit (20-30 deg C) [20]. The ability of common freckle pelt to fix
nitrogen is extremely reduced at an atmospheric pH below 6.0, and
reduced fixation rates may be an indicator of acid rain. Acid rainfall
in the eastern United States may severely inhibit nitrogenase activity
in common freckle pelt and, as a result, reduce or eliminate its contribution
of fixed nitrogen to the forest ecosystems where it is abundant [14].

Lichens are widely used as indicators of air pollution or air quality.
Common freckle pelt is extremely susceptible to air pollution, especially
that caused by sulfur dioxide and fluorides [28,35]. Lichens, including
common freckle pelt, absorb radioactive fallout more readily than vascular
plants. This radioactive material is then passed along the food chain
[35]. Common freckle pelt readily absorbed aluminum and silicon from
Mount St. Helens' ash emissions [28].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Nutritional Value

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Common freckle pelt contains 17 to 21 percent crude protein. Foliose
lichens such as common freckle pelt have a much lower carbohydrate content than
the fruticose lichens highly preferred by caribou [35].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

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AK AZ CA CO CT DE ID KY ME MD
MA MI MN MT NV NH NJ NM NY NC
ND OH OR PA RI SD TN UT VT VA
WA WV WI WY AB BC MB NB NF NT
NS ON PE PQ SK YT
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Palatability

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Common freckle pelt is of low palatability to caribou [2].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Plant Response to Fire

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More info for the terms: cover, frequency, lichens, mesic, taiga, tree

Members of the genus Peltigera often establish in moss mats within 5
years following fire [43]. In burned areas, common freckle pelt may occur in
the most lightly burned or unburned spots, and then spread out
vegetatively [26].

In a black spruce (Picea mariana)/feather moss (Pleurozium
schreberi)-Cladonia plant community in Alaska, common freckle pelt was present
in unburned controls, but was not found on burned or fireline sites in
the first 9 years after a fire [40]. Common freckle pelt did not survive
severe burning in the Wickersham Dome Fire near Fairbanks, Alaska. On
severely burned black spruce and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
sites, common freckle pelt was not present in the first 3 years following the
fire. It had control plot frequencies of 20 and 5 percent, respectively
[41]. Lichens, including common freckle pelt, were not present the first year
after the 1950 Porcupine River Fire in Alaska. Other members of the
genus Peltigera appeared by postfire year 4, but common freckle pelt appeared
late and expanded very slowly for the next 30 years. It eventually
became dominant among lichens on mineral soil [13]. Common freckle pelt
had the following frequency and cover percentages on mesic black spruce
sites in the taiga of interior Alaska [12]:

Years since fire cover frequency
_________________________________________________________________________
Newly burned 0-1 0 0
Moss-herb 1-5 >0.5 1.0
Tall shrub-sapling 5-30 1.0 9.0
Dense tree 30-55 >0.5 31.0
Mixed hardwood-spruce 56-90 >0.5 13.0
Spruce 91-200+ >0.5 2.0
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Post-fire Regeneration

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More info for the term: secondary colonizer

Initial off-site colonizer (off site, initial community) Secondary colonizer (on- or off-site spores)
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regeneration Processes

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Lichen reproduction mainly occurs by means of thallus fragmentation or
the dispersal of isidia and soredia. Wind, water, or animals play an
important role in the dispersal of these vegetative propagules [1,16].
Common freckle pelt also produces many large apothecia [17,39].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

1 Northern Pacific Border
2 Cascade Mountains
4 Sierra Mountains
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
15 Black Hills Uplift
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Successional Status

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More info for the terms: climax, competition, forest, lichen, lichens, succession

Lichens in general decline in productivity and quality in older stands
[21]. Ahti [2] suggests that lichens may be pioneer plants on some
sites because they are dependent on air moisture rather than soil
moisture, and can tolerate shallow substrata. They persist in
environments too harsh for higher plants, provided relative humidity is
sufficiently high for lichen growth and temperature is sufficiently low
to inhibit competitors. Northern boreal forests offer climatically
optimal conditions for lichen growth because of slow rates of plant
succession and little competition from other plant forms.

Common freckle pelt is found in stable, mature forest ecosystems in
west-central Alberta, including climax Engelmann spruce (Picea
engelmannii)-subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) habitats [5,29]. It
occurs in both old-growth (300 years) and second-growth (70 years) grand
fir (Abies grandis) habitats in the Swan Valley, Montana, but is more
abundant in the old-growth communities [25]. In Alaska, common freckle pelt is
generally not found in frequently flooded areas [30].
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bibliographic citation
Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

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The currently accepted scientific name of common freckle pelt is Peltigera
aphthosa (L.) Willd. (Peltigeraceae)[6,8,20,39].
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Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Peltigera aphthosa

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Peltigera aphthosa is a species of lichen known by the common names green dog lichen, leafy lichen, felt lichen, and common freckle pelt. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the Arctic, boreal, and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.[1]

This lichen has a large thallus that may exceed one meter in width. It is divided into lobes up to about 10 centimeters long and 6 wide. It is green, becoming pale as it dries. The thallus is dotted with cephalodia, which contains one of the two symbionts, a species of Nostoc. The other is a species of Coccomyxa. These perform photosynthesis, and the Nostoc also fixes nitrogen. The lichen produces large apothecia, a reproductive structure.[1]

This widespread lichen grows in a variety of habitat types, including Arctic ecosystems. It grows in alpine climates in the southern parts of its distribution.[1]

This lichen was noted to absorb aluminum and silicon from the ash released from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.[1]

It is a known host to the lichenicolous fungus species Lichenopeltella santessonii.[2]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peltigera aphthosa.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Matthews, Robin F. 1993. Peltigera aphthosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  2. ^ Brackel, Wolfgang von (2011). "Lichenopeltella rangiferinae sp. nov. and some other lichenicolous fungi from Iceland" (PDF). Acta Botanica Islandica. 15: 51–60.

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Peltigera aphthosa: Brief Summary

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Peltigera aphthosa is a species of lichen known by the common names green dog lichen, leafy lichen, felt lichen, and common freckle pelt. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the Arctic, boreal, and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

This lichen has a large thallus that may exceed one meter in width. It is divided into lobes up to about 10 centimeters long and 6 wide. It is green, becoming pale as it dries. The thallus is dotted with cephalodia, which contains one of the two symbionts, a species of Nostoc. The other is a species of Coccomyxa. These perform photosynthesis, and the Nostoc also fixes nitrogen. The lichen produces large apothecia, a reproductive structure.

This widespread lichen grows in a variety of habitat types, including Arctic ecosystems. It grows in alpine climates in the southern parts of its distribution.

This lichen was noted to absorb aluminum and silicon from the ash released from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

It is a known host to the lichenicolous fungus species Lichenopeltella santessonii.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peltigera aphthosa.
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