General: Common Name: The Treepelt Lichens. Reflects strict occurrence of species over bark and superficial resemblance to certain pelt lichens (Peltigera). Small stratified foliose lichens, corticate above, noncorticate below, sorediate, lobes loosely attached, rotund (in BC), averaging to 5 mm wide, somewhat thick. Upper surface greyish brown, bearing short erect hairs. Lower surface whitish, lacking veins, bearing short to long rhizines, restricted to vicinity of margins. Medulla white. Photobiont blue-green. Apothecia unknown in B.C. material. Over branches of acid-barked trees and shrubs. Notes: Erioderma is an essentially tropical genus of approximately 22 species. Of these, only three are known to occur in North America and one in B.C. For points of distinction with similar species, see the descriptions under Pannaria and Peltigera.
