THE HISTORY OF LICHENOLOGY. 



SECTION I. 



THE HISTORY OF LICHENOLOGY. 



The history of lichenology is a remarkable one. It 

 indicates that this special science has progressed in a 

 devious and interrupted course. It is only within a 

 few years that scientists have arrived at any compara- 

 tive certainty as to the true nature of these plants. 

 Wonderfully absurd opinions were entertained as to 

 their origin and economic uses. For these reasons a 

 brief historical review is not only interesting but 

 highly important. 



Historically, time is usually divided into periods or 

 epochs ; such divisions are, however, more or less 

 arbitrary and depend somewhat upon the judgment of 

 the author. The establishment of periods very greatly 

 simplifies the presentation of an historical review. It 

 must, however, not be supposed that the greater the 

 number of epochs or periods the simpler the history; 

 generally the contrary is true. 



The most exhaustive history of lichenology is that 

 by Krempelhuber, published in the year 1867. This 

 author divides the history of our science ii^to six 

 periods, as follows : 1, from the earliest times (Theo- 

 phrastus) to Tournefort (1694) ; 2, from Tournefort 

 to Micheli (1729) ; 3, from Micheli to Weber (1779) ; 

 4, from Weber to Acharius (1810) ; 5, from Acha- 



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