Carpet Pelt Lichen
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186481290
As I trudged through the soggy forest searching for this week's observation, I spotted a bunch of tiny orange speckles and took a closer look. This Carpet Pelt Lichen was growing on the side of a tree trunk nearly at the base. I was surprised by the bold orange color which contrasted well against the dark lobes of the lichen yet was camouflaged when looking from a distance. In my efforts to procure information about this eye-catching lichen, I came across many sources calling the same lichen by various different names. It turns out, that is because this lichen, "has many common names; felt lichen, frog pelt, undulating pelt, and carpet pelt to name a few. The funny thing is that all these pelts make one think of a skin, and they certainly look the part, but the pelt in Peltigera is Latin for shield"(Nelson). Learning that there are many names for similar looking lichen helped broaden my search. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that lichens aren't just interesting because they're fun shapes and intriguing to look at. Lichens are important in reducing pollutants in the air! The USDA states that, "Any heavy metals or carbon or sulfur or other pollutants in the atmosphere are absorbed into the lichen thallus. Scientists can extract these toxins and determine the levels that are present in our atmosphere"(About Lichens). Given that Southeast Alaska is filled with many different types of lichens, the superior air quality is just another reason to be grateful to live here.
“About Lichens.” U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/about.shtml. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.
Nelson, Dan. “Peltigera Neopolydactyla.” 10,000 Things of the Pacific Northwest, 5 Feb. 2021, 10000thingsofthepnw.com/2021/02/04/peltigera-neopolydactyla/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.
Comments
Hi Jillian;
What a beautiful plant! I don't think I have seen this lichen before. I was unaware that it removed heavy metals from the air. When my son came and visited me, it was his first time here in Alaska, and he remarked how fresh the air was. It must be because our lichen hangs, grows, and makes its home on every tree and other decomposing wood in our expansive forests. I always look for something new during my meandering walks, so I will spend time looking for these fungi. In my Biology class a couple of years ago, I learned that fungi and mushrooms are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi and mushrooms share around 50% of our DNA. I was surprised, but it is because fungi and mushrooms store carbohydrates, and plants do not; they use photosynthesis, whereas fungi and mushrooms do not. These are interesting, fun facts. I only wish I could learn this part of our forests because I would love to be able to go looking for the edible ones and fix a meal or two of them. With them being eaters of stuff we would consider dangerous, there are probably not many edible lichens. Thank you for introducing me to something new; I love this class part.
Gayleen
Great MLA format, Jillian! I do want to draw your attention to one small correction, however: in your parenthetical citation, be sure to put web page/article titles in quotation marks. Otherwise, excellent MLA work!
Also, lovely job looking closely at the world around you! Lichens, liverworts, mosses, parasites -- there are tiny species that surround us every moment we're outside, but most of us don't ever notice them. We've become so disconnected from the natural world that there's a phenomenon for an aspect of it called "plant blindness." It looks like you may not suffer from this phenomenon, and maybe by sharing some of the species you observe, you'll help others to recover from or avoid "plant blindness." Well done!
Prof Brooke
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