A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Peltigera sp.
Leafy looking lichen with a leathery texture. Dark bluish gray upper with a white underside that has tiny spike-shaped protrusions (called rhizines). Found growing on the ground.
Temperate woodlands bordering a man made lake. Growing with moss. Rockwood Park, Virginia.
Possibly Peltigera elisabethae or Peltigera horizontalis.
Spotted on Jun 11, 2015
Submitted on Mar 22, 2018
4 Comments
Thanks for finding that out!
Maria, upon doing a bit of research, the spiky protrusions are called rhizines (or rhisoid for singular) and are apparently a distinguishing feature between different species of lichens. They are described as a "rootlike or hairlike filament that grows from the stems of mosses and lichens".
Do you know what the spiky protrusions are?
Photo No. 1: is a very interesting photo....