Peltigera spuria (Ach.) DC.
Lichen spurius Ach., Lich. suec. Prodr.: 159 (1798).
Thallus orbicular, small, often cochleate, 0.5-2.0(-3) cm diam. Lobes ascending, margins entire, often incurled. Upper surface thick, coriaceous, brownish-grey or buff or pale greyish-green, tomentose, ± sorediate when young. Soredia grey, coarse, granular, in ± marginal soralia or in small, rounded, erose spots or patches on upper surface, disappearing in older, usually fertile specimens. Lower surface pale whitish or brownish-pink, arachnoid, veins pale buff, raised, 0.5-1.5 mm wide. Rhizines pale buff, simple to fasciculate, 2.5 mm long, mainly central. Apothecia on ascending, revolute lobes, 2-4 mm diam., rounded to irregular-elongate, disc red-brown to brown-black, epruinose, margins pale, buff, crenulate-corrugate. Ascospores elongate-fusiform, 5-7-septate 55-70 × 3-4 µm. Chemistry: TLC nil.
N: South Auckland (Waikato River, Ruakura). S: Canterbury (Godley Valley), Otago (Haast Pass, near Dunedin). On clay banks in ± dry places, beneath dry scrub, lowland to subalpine-alpine, s.l. to 2000 m. Still poorly collected in New Zealand.
Cosmopolitan
