A robust Peltigera species, characterized by a smooth, matt thallus up to 15 cm, grey, bluish-grey to grey-brown when dry, and vivid brown to bluish-grey when wet. The veins are raised, light orange to brown, darkening towards the centre; rhizines 8–15 mm long, simple or, more rarely, fasciculate. Apothecia are frequent. The species produces a wide range of secondary metabolites, including methylgyrophorate, usually in high concentration, which in solvent C leaves a distinct yellowish band extending from the baseline. Zeorin is absent or present only in low concentrations, unlike in the similar P. neopolydactyla, which also differs in having a thicker thallus and darker veins.
A very similar lichen is P. polydactylon, which is overall smaller, with narrower, wavy to crisped lobes and often confluent, shorter rhizines (mostly up to 5 mm long). Its dark lower surface extends nearly to the margin, where it is somewhat paler but still pigmented. In contrast, P. vitikainenii develops a broader pale zone along the lobe margins. Chemically, P. polydactylon differs in the absence of the yellow band between the baseline and methylgyrophorate. However, if this band is missing, the two species are practically indistinguishable.
Peltigera vitikainenii is a species of moist mountain forests, often of primeval character. It typically grows on mosses covering fallen logs or rocks, but is also known from soil and bases of beech trees. Its overall distribution is poorly known. Verified records so far come from North America, Europe, and Asia (as far as Japan). In Europe it occurs in the northern part of the continent, as well as in mountain ranges further south, e.g. the Alps, Carpathians, and Pyrenees (Magain et al. 2023). In the Czech Republic it is rare, documented only from the Šumava and Novohradské hory Mts, and historically from Šumperk. Several specimens are known from the Žofínský prales, Povydří, and Stožec. Additional records come from Mrtvý luh, Černé jezero, Zátoň, and Černý Kříž (all in the Šumava Mts).
Literature: Magain et al. (2023): High species richness in the lichen genus Peltigera (Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes): 34 species in the dolichorhizoid and scabrosoid clades of section Polydactylon, including 24 new to science. – Persoonia 51: 1–88. Panáková K., Malíček J. & Palice Z. (2024): Revize rozšíření hávnatky Peltigera neopolydactyla v České republice [A revision of the distribution of Peltigera neopolydactyla in the Czech Republic]. – Bryonora 74: 25–38.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Peltigerales → Peltigeraceae → Peltigera
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 21, confirmed 20. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).