Species

Nephroma bellum (Naked kidney lichen)

Nephroma bellum. Photo: (c) M. Goff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Nephroma is a genus of medium to large foliose lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains 36 species. They are sometimes called kidney lichens, named after the characteristic kidney-shaped apothecia that they produce on the lower surface of their lobe tips, which often curl upwards and thus are visible from above. Sterile specimens that do not have apothecia can look somewhat like Melanelia, Peltigera, Platismatia, or Asahinea. Most species grow either on mossy ground…

— Wikipedia