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THE BRYOLOGIS ***$ 
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Vol. XXII 
November, 1919 
No. 6. 
A SHORT HISTORY OF LIGHENOLOGY 1 
Charles C. Plitt 
Like the history of most things biological, the history of Lichenology, es- 
pecially that most worth while, does not date very far back. Due to their little 
economic value, (especially true of the vast majority of Lichens, and particularly 
true for those found in the more habitable regions of the world) Lichens had 
hardly been thought worth while studying. Even Linnaeus dubbed them the 
“rustici pauperrimi” of vegetation, which has been quite properly translated, 
the “poor trash” of vegetation. 2 Linnaeus, however, was no particular friend 
of the Cryptogams, and the Lichens, in particular, received very little of his 
attention. 
As to the derivation and meaning of the word “lichen, ” there are differences 
of opinion. According to Lindsay (History of British Lichens), it is derived from 
\ei%r)V — a war L in allusion to the resemblance of the apothecia of many of the 
species to a wart. On the other hand Dillen is quoted as stating that the word 
is derived either from — Latin lingo, to lick up, because the plants can ab- 
sorb water so readily, or from because of the efficacy of these plants in 
curing the disease known as 
The word XscxV appears in Dioscorides, later also in Pliny, but it is not defi- 
nitely understood what plant is meant; some think that some Marchantia form 
of Liverwort is meant, and no Lichen; Krempel-huber (Geschichte der Lichen- 
ologie), however, says that there is no more reason for supposing this, than that 
a Lichen is what is meant. 
Several Lichens were no doubt known to the ancients — Vsnea dasypoga, for 
example, seems to have been known to Aristotle — likewise several furnishing 
valuable purple dyes are alluded to under various names in Dioscorides, Theo- 
x This paper was read at a biological seminary meeting about three years ago. It is here pre- 
sented, as it was also on the above occasion, for the benefit of such readers who, although inter- 
ested, in a general way, in Lichens, may not be so much so as to find the time to read, or, perhaps, 
may not have access to the works treating this subject more elaborately; at the same time, it is 
hoped that some will have their interests aroused to the study of this most interesting class of plants. 
2 Schneider, “Guide to the Study of Lichens,” p. 6, or Schneider, “A Text book of General 
Lichenelogy, ” p. . 8. Both of these books are recommended for those interested in the history 
of Lichens. 
The September number of The Bryologist was published November 25, 1919. 
