12. Deciduous Pelt

There are 3 species of these green (when wet) Peltigera in our area with black "freckles". This one, Peltigera brittanica is the commonest on the west coast and the Silver-edged Pelt, Peltigera aphthosa is the more common one in the interior of the province.  The black "freckles" are cephalodia, which are cyanobacteria containing warts.  In this species these growths are raised and free at the edges and easily brushed off (hence the  "Deciduous" name,  I assume).   In Silver-edged and Ruffled Pelts (P. leucophlebia)  they are recessed and rather more difficult to dislodge.  In addition the Ruffled Pelt is shaded on the undersurface so that it is white on the edges and gradually changes to black in the center, while in the other two species the colour change is sharply demarked.  At Leaning Oaks, Deciduous Pelt grows on rocks and boulders in open areas that have a moss cover.  
Other common names for this species include British Felt Lichen and the Flaky Freckle Pelt. 

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