A tiny Peltigera species, almost unmistakable thanks to its peltate (“flat”) isidia on the thallus surface. It usually inhabits slightly disturbed calcareous soils or detritus in rock crevices. It is a pioneer species with a subcosmopolitan distribution. Peltigera lepidophora has been recorded also in the tropics and southern hemisphere. In Europe, the lichen is distributed nearly across the entire continent but generally belongs to rare species, which applies also to the Czech Republic. Most of its records come from boreal and mountain areas. Surprisingly, most of its Czech localities are at lower elevations: the Křivoklát region, Moravský Krumlov and the NP Podyjí. The only mountain population documented so far persists in the Velká kotlina cirque in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. In the past, the species was apparently more common in the country but it has declined probably due to changes in landscape management.
Literature: Liška J., Palice Z. & Dětinský R. (1998): Změny v rozšíření vzácných a ohrožených lišejníků v České republice I. – Příroda 12: 131–144.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Peltigerales → Peltigeraceae → Peltigera
Red List (Liška & Palice 2010):EN – endangered
Red List (Malíček 2023):C1 – critically endangered
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 26, confirmed 20. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).