Erik Acharius
Encyclopedia
Erik Acharius was a Swedish
botanist who pioneered the taxonomy of lichen
s and is known as the "father of lichenology
".
Acharius was born in Gävle
, matriculated at Uppsala University
in 1773 and was one of the last of the students of Linnaeus
. He later worked for the Royal Academy of Sciences
in Stockholm
and completed his medical studies at Lund University
in 1782. He was appointed town medical officer in Vadstena
in 1785, district medical officer in Östergötland County
in 1789, director of the new Vadstena
Hospital (which he had initiated) in 1795, and titular professor in 1803.
Acharius belonged to the younger generations of Swedish botanists who continued what Linnaeus had left undone. Acharius began the taxonomic classification of the Lichenes and published several work in this field: Lichenographiae Suecia prodromus (1798), Methodus lichenum (1803), Lichenographia universalis (1810), Synopsis methodica lichenum (1814) and many smaller papers in periodicals.
He was a member of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
(1795), the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
(1796), the Linnean Society of London
(1801) and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
(1810).
The genus Acharia
, several plants, such as Rosa acharii and Conferva acharii and one insect, Tortrix achariana have been named after Acharius; likewise, the Acharius Medal
is awarded for lifetime achievement in lichenology.
The collections of Acharius are distributed over several museum
s: the Finnish Museum of Natural History
in Helsinki
, the Botanical Museum in Uppsala, the Swedish Museum of Natural History
and the Botanical Museum in Lund. His papers are in the Library of Uppsala University
.
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 who pioneered the taxonomy of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s and is known as the "father of lichenology
Lichenology
Lichenology is the branch of mycology that studies the lichens, symbiotic organisms made up of an intimate symbiotic association of a microscopic alga with a filamentous fungus....
".
Acharius was born in Gävle
Gävle
Gävle is a city in Sweden, the seat of Gävle Municipality and the capital of Gävleborg County. It had 71,033 inhabitants in 12/31 2010. It is the oldest city in the historical Norrland , having received its charter in 1446 from Christopher of Bavaria.-History:It is believed that the name Gävle...
, matriculated at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1773 and was one of the last of the students of 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...
. He later worked for the Royal Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and completed his medical studies at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in 1782. He was appointed town medical officer in Vadstena
Vadstena
Vadstena is a locality and the seat of Vadstena Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden, with 5,612 inhabitants in 2005. From 1974 to 1979 Vadstena was administered as part of Motala Municipality....
in 1785, district medical officer in Östergötland County
Östergötland County
Östergötland County is a county or län in southeastern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kalmar to the southeast, Jönköping to the southwest, Västra Götaland to the west, Örebro to the northwest, Södermanland to the northeast, and the Baltic Sea to the east.Östergötland County has a population of...
in 1789, director of the new Vadstena
Vadstena
Vadstena is a locality and the seat of Vadstena Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden, with 5,612 inhabitants in 2005. From 1974 to 1979 Vadstena was administered as part of Motala Municipality....
Hospital (which he had initiated) in 1795, and titular professor in 1803.
Acharius belonged to the younger generations of Swedish botanists who continued what Linnaeus had left undone. Acharius began the taxonomic classification of the Lichenes and published several work in this field: Lichenographiae Suecia prodromus (1798), Methodus lichenum (1803), Lichenographia universalis (1810), Synopsis methodica lichenum (1814) and many smaller papers in periodicals.
He was a member of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund or Kungl. Fysiografiska Sällskapet i Lund, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in Lund, on December 2, 1772, and received a Royal Charter by Gustav III, on March 6, 1778.- External links :*...
(1795), the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
(1796), the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
(1801) and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
The Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala , is the oldest of the royal academies in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign....
(1810).
The genus Acharia
Acharia (plant)
Acharia is a genus of flowering plants, endemic to southern Africa.-External links:*...
, several plants, such as Rosa acharii and Conferva acharii and one insect, Tortrix achariana have been named after Acharius; likewise, the Acharius Medal
Acharius Medal
The Acharius Medal is awarded for lifetime achievement in lichenology.The first Acharius Medal was made by the Royal Swedish Mint for the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in 1846, although the medal's original purpose has not been recorded...
is awarded for lifetime achievement in lichenology.
The collections of Acharius are distributed over several museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s: the Finnish Museum of Natural History
Finnish Museum of Natural History
The Finnish Museum of Natural History , established in 1988, is a research institution under the University of Helsinki in Finland. It is responsible for the national botanical, zoological, geological and paleontological collections consisting of samples from around the world...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, the Botanical Museum in Uppsala, the Swedish Museum of Natural History
Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish Museum of Natural History , in Stockholm, is one of two major museums of natural history in Sweden, the other one being located in Gothenburg....
and the Botanical Museum in Lund. His papers are in the Library of Uppsala University
Uppsala University Library
Uppsala University Library at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, consists of 12 subject libraries, one of which is housed in the old main library building, Carolina Rediviva...
.