GRAPHIS SCNIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

GRAPHIS SCRIPTA 5 (19e3)
Sten Ahlner (1905-1991) Il9
Figure 2. Sten Ahlner 1965.
the immigration to Scandinavia of the different
species. He took into consideration immigration
from east (together with the spruce) as
well as from the south (earlier, with the pine);
however, some species with a special distribution
may be survivors from the last glaciation
in Scandinavia. The last-mentioned theory is
based on the distribution of Cavernularia
especially, a genuine spruce lichen (according
to the author) which also will speak in favour
of the survival of the spruce (Picea abies var.
arctica) in Noruray, the view of Bertil Lindquist
(see, however, Degelius in Svensk Bot.
Tidskr. 1952: 53-61). After the doctorate,
Sten's scientific activity was practically finished.
Sten was, first and foremost, a phytogeographer
and field botanist, less a taxonomist.
During the numerous excursions he collected
a rich lichen material, now incorporated in the
herbarium of Riksmuseet (S). His keenness in
the field is widely known; he enriched the
knowledge of the Nordic lichen flora thanks to
several very interesting discoveries. Some species
were new to Europe, such as the above
mentioned Cavernularia hultenii, Erioderma
boreale (which must be called E. pedicellatum,
earlier described), and Lobaria hallii, all North
American. Among other his interesting finds
were Solorinella asteriscus and Caloplaca
tominii (both new to northern EuroPe), Psora
vallesiaca ("Lecidea albilabra", new to Scandinavia),
Heppia lutosa (neln to Norway), Alectoria
nitidula and Stereocaulon incrustatum
(new to Sweden). He was interested in the
lichen flora of Gistrikland, his home province,
and Opland in Nonnay especially, but alas he
never published the results of these investigations.
,
We became acquainted in the middle
twenties in Uppsala, and since that time we
were close friends. With his considerable gifts
and cleverness he was much honoured among
fellow-students and teachers. He was goodnatured
and sociable, natural and reliable; in
his investigations very solid but conservative
(as in other things). Together with his wife
Astrid he was very hospitable in his home in
Uppsala as well as in the summer house on
Igg0n north of Glvle.
The memory of Sten Ahlner will long live
among friends and colleagues.
Lichenological publications of Sten Ahlner
L93la: Evernia divaricata (L.) Ach. funnen
med soredier. Bot. Notiser 1931: 219-22I.
1931b: Usnea longissima Ach. i Skandinavien.
Med en oversikt av dess europeiska utbredning.
Svensk Bot. Tidslcr. 25: 395-416.
1932: Stereocaulon incrustatum Flk., en f0r
Sverige ny lav. Bot. Notiser 1932:300-301.
1935: Gyrophora rigida DR. funnen i Halsingland.
Bot. Notiser 1935: L6-L67.
L936a: Ett gammalt fynd av Gyrophora rigida
DR. vid Gefle. Bot. Notiser 1936: 134-135.