Concentric Pelt Lichen

<em>Peltigera elisabethae</em>, commonly known as the Concentric Pelt Lichen, is a foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae, characterised by large, lobed thalli with a distinctive patterned upper surface and pale, veined undersides. Members of the genus Peltigera typically form symbiotic associations with either green algae or cyanobacteria (primarily Nostoc), the latter of which contributes nitrogen fixation capacity, making these lichens important contributors to nutrient cycling in boreal and tundra ecosystems. <em>Peltigera elisabethae</em> typically grows on soil, mossy rocks, tree bases, and forest floor litter in humid, cool-temperate to boreal habitats, and has been recorded in Norway, Sweden, and the United States, suggesting a circumpolar or widespread Northern Hemisphere distribution. The species has not been evaluated by the IUCN, so its formal conservation status remains unknown. Foliose Peltigera lichens generally thrive in habitats with clean air, as they are sensitive to atmospheric nitrogen deposition and sulfur dioxide pollution, making them useful bioindicators of air quality. Biological traits including thallus growth rates, individual longevity, and reproductive biology remain poorly documented for this particular species, though members of the genus are typically slow-growing, perennial organisms capable of persisting for decades on stable substrates.