Lichenology
Encyclopedia
Lichenology is the branch of mycology
that studies the lichens, symbiotic organism
s made up of an intimate symbiotic association of a microscopic alga (or a cyanbacterium) with a filament
ous fungus
.
The taxonomy
of lichens was first intensively investigated by the Swedish
botanist Erik Acharius
(1757-1819), who is therefore sometimes named the "father of lichenology". Acharius was a student of Carolus Linnaeus
. Some of his more important works on the subject, which marked the beginning of lichenology as a discipline, are:
Later lichenologists include the American botanist Edward Tuckerman
and the Russia
n evolutionary biologist Konstantin Merezhkovsky.
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
that studies the lichens, symbiotic organism
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s made up of an intimate symbiotic association of a microscopic alga (or a cyanbacterium) with a filament
Hypha
A hypha is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium; yeasts are unicellular fungi that do not grow as hyphae.-Structure:A hypha consists of one or...
ous fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
.
The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of lichens was first intensively investigated by the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
botanist Erik Acharius
Erik Acharius
Erik Acharius was a Swedish botanist who pioneered the taxonomy of lichens and is known as the "father of lichenology"....
(1757-1819), who is therefore sometimes named the "father of lichenology". Acharius was a student of Carolus Linnaeus
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
. Some of his more important works on the subject, which marked the beginning of lichenology as a discipline, are:
- Lichenographiae Suecia prodromus (1798)
- Methodus lichenum (1803)
- Lichenographia universalis (1810)
- Synopsis methodica lichenum (1814)
Later lichenologists include the American botanist Edward Tuckerman
Edward Tuckerman
Edward Tuckerman was an American botanist and professor who made significant contributions to the study of lichens and other alpine plants. He was a founding member of the Natural History Society of Boston and most of his career was spent at Amherst College...
and the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n evolutionary biologist Konstantin Merezhkovsky.