# Membranous Pelt Lichen (*peltigera membranacea*)

The Membranous Pelt Lichen is a fascinating plant that looks like a soft, green carpet on the ground! It helps clean the air and is home to tiny creatures.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Forests, on rocks, trees, and soil.
- **Also known as:** Green Pelt Lichen, Membranous Lichen

![Membranous Pelt Lichen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Peltigera_membranacea_102757021.jpg&width=800)

Photo: zappapy, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peltigera_membranacea_102757021.jpg)

## Appearance

The Membranous Pelt Lichen has broad, leaf-like lobes that are often bluish-gray to greenish-brown when wet, becoming paler and brittle when dry. Its underside is usually white with distinctive flattened veins, giving it a unique textured appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Lecanoromycetes
- **Order:** Peltigerales
- **Family:** Peltigeraceae
- **Genus:** Peltigera

## Interesting facts

- It can pause its life for years and then spring back!
- It's a fantastic duo: a fungus and algae living as one!
- This lichen makes its own 'sunscreen' to prevent sunburn!
- When wet, it turns bright green, soaking up the rain!

## Special abilities

- **Photosynthesis Partner:** Membranous Pelt Lichen has tiny algae living inside that can make its own food using sunlight.
- **Water Sponge:** Membranous Pelt Lichen can soak up moisture directly from rain and fog using its whole body.
- **Nitrogen Fixer:** Membranous Pelt Lichen has special partners that capture nitrogen from the air, enriching the soil.
- **Air Quality Sensor:** Membranous Pelt Lichen is very sensitive to air pollution and only grows in clean environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 0.5-5 cm
- **Spread:** 5-30 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs and snails sometimes graze on its broad lobes.
- **Eaten by:** Reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — Provides food for reindeer and caribou in winter.
- **Eaten by:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Moose occasionally browse on this lichen.
- **Depends on:** [White Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-spruce) (*Picea glauca*) — Enriches forest soil with nitrogen, aiding tree growth.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Membranous Pelt Lichen?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Membranous Pelt Lichen?

0.5-5 cm

### How wide does Membranous Pelt Lichen spread?

5-30 cm

### Is Membranous Pelt Lichen edible?

No

### Is Membranous Pelt Lichen toxic?

None

### What is Membranous Pelt Lichen's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is Membranous Pelt Lichen usually found?

Forests, on rocks, trees, and soil.

## Where to spot

- [Garibaldi Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garibaldi-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park
- [Leach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leach-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Membranous Pelt Lichen: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/membranous-pelt-lichen)