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Erik AhariusSwedish botanist, "the father of lichenology".
Date of Birth: 10.10.1757
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- Erik Acharius: "The Father of Lichenology"
- Scientific Contributions
- "Lichenographia" and the Expansion of Lichen Knowledge
- Scientific Legacy
- Honors and Memberships
- Key Publications
Erik Acharius: "The Father of Lichenology"
Early Life and EducationErik Acharius (October 10, 1757 - August 14, 1819) was born in Gävle, Sweden. In 1773, he enrolled at Uppsala University, where he became one of the last students of the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus.
Scientific Contributions
As a botanist, Acharius focused his research on lichens, a group of organisms consisting of fungi and algae that form symbiotic relationships. He proposed a systematic classification for lichens, similar to that developed by Fries for fungi and Lamarck for invertebrate zoology.
"Lichenographia" and the Expansion of Lichen Knowledge
Acharius expanded Linnaean taxonomy by describing numerous new lichen species and grouping them into 40 distinct genera. His groundbreaking work, "Lichenographia Universalis," published in 1810, presented a comprehensive understanding of lichens, revolutionizing the field of lichenology.
Scientific Legacy
After Acharius's death, his lichen collection was acquired by the Finnish Natural History Museum in Helsinki, with a significant portion remaining in Sweden at the Botanical Museum in Uppsala. His collection includes over 60 type specimens described by Acharius. His manuscripts are housed in the Uppsala University Library.
Honors and Memberships
Acharius's contributions to science earned him numerous honors. He was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1796, the Linnean Society of London in 1801, and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala in 1810.
Key Publications
Acharius's principal works include:"Lichenographiae suecicae prodromus" (1798)
"Methodus qua omnes detectos lichenes" (1803)
"Lichenographia universalis" (1810)
"Synopsis methodica Lichenum" (1814)
