GRAPHIS SCNIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

Sten Ahlner (1905-1991): in memoriam
GUNNAR DEGELIUS
Degelius, G. 193: Sten Ahlner (1905-1991): in memoriam. Graphis Scripta
5: 1L7-120. Stockholm. ISSN 0901-7593.
Docent Sten Ahlner (1905-1991), Uppsala, Was author of many papers on
Nordic lichens, e.g. the doctoral dissertation on some species on coniferous
trees, their distribution (with maps), ecology and immigration (1948). He
made many interesting discoveries, including some species new to Europe. His
rich collections are incorporated in S.
Gunnar Degelius, Askims liittegrytsvtig 3, 5-436 00 Askim, Sweden.
On January 12th L991, Sten Ahlner died in
Uppsala, aged 85 years; he was senior curator
and docent. He had been frail in health during
his last years (hip-disease and trouble with the
heart). With his death we have lost an appreciated
lichenological colleague.
Sten Gustaf Edvard Ahlner was born on
September 18th L905, in Giivle, the same town
as Acharius. He was the son of Oscar Ahlner,
teacher at a deaf and dumb-school, and his
wife Anna, nde Karlsson, also a teacher. After
matriculation (with high marks) in his native
town in 1924, he enrolled as a student at
Uppsala University where he graduated: Fil.
Mag.in 1930 (botany, zoology, geography) and
Fil. Lic. in 1936 (plant biology). In L948, on
May 26th, he defended a doctor's dissertation
and was appointed docent in plant biology the
same year. In 1950-71he was in active service
at the Botanical section of the Museum of
Natural History (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet)
in Stockholm, and from 1955 also docent in
botany at Stockholm University. Between L952
and 1969 he was the editor of the periodical
Svensk Botanisk Tidskift, and owing to this
work he was designated as an honorary
member of the Swedish Botanical Society
(Svenska Botaniska F6reningen). He was also
a corresponding member of the Societas
Tnolo gica - B otanica Fennica Vanamo.
His nearest relatives are his wife Astrid,
n6e Hammarberg, and two children from a
previous marriage. His last resting place is
situated in the old cemetery in Uppsala.
Interested in botany, also lichens, already as a
schoolboy, Sten dedicated himself to this
science after the Fil. Mag.-degree, and went to
the Institution of Plant Biology (now called
Department of Ecological Botany, "Vdxtbio")
in Uppsala, the head of which was. the legendary
Professor Rutger Sernander, the founder
of lichen-ecological research in Sweden. Some
years later Prof. Sernander retired and was
followed by Professor G. Einar Du Rietz,
many-sided botanist as his predecessor, also
lichenologist, and a teacher capable of arousing
the highest enthusiasm in his pupils.
Lichen research was at this time - and also in
the future of major importance in the research
activities of the institution, and also
several other young scientists became devoted
to this branch of cryptogamy.* Torsten Has-
* This is almost entirely neglected by Thomas
Soderqvist in his dissertation The Ecologists.
From Merry Naturalists to Saviours of the