Day 90: Although they resemble roots, rhizines such as those found on the undersides of Peltigera lichens, these non-vascular structures do not play a role in the lichens' uptake of nutrients. Rather, they are what attach it to its substrate material. They occur in many forms and sizes: hairlike, forked, branched, bottle-brush; short, long, dense, sparse and so on. The morphology of the rhizines is diagnostic in many foliose lichen genera, so a hand lens is a valuable tool to have in the field. In this instance, we have Peltigera membranacea, commonly known as Membranous Dog Lichen. Why "Dog?" The common name has always baffled me, so I turned to the internet for help with the mystery. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, it addresses the resemblance of the fruiting bodies to dogs' teeth. Personally, I think they look more like zombie fingernails.
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