Concentric Pelt Lichen vs Flat Fruited Pelt

Peltigera elisabethae compared with Peltigera horizontalis

Key Differences

• Concentric Pelt Lichen is Not Evaluated while Flat Fruited Pelt is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Concentric Pelt Lichen	Flat Fruited Pelt
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class same	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order same	Peltigerales (Peltigerales)	Peltigerales (Peltigerales)
Family same	Peltigeraceae	Peltigeraceae
Genus same	Peltigera	Peltigera
Species	Peltigera elisabethae	Peltigera horizontalis

Evolutionary Relationship

Concentric Pelt Lichen and Flat Fruited Pelt share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Peltigera.

Conservation Status

Concentric Pelt Lichen

NE — Not Evaluated

Flat Fruited Pelt

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Concentric Pelt Lichen	Flat Fruited Pelt
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Concentric Pelt Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Flat Fruited Pelt

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and North America (United States). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States