The Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi of Belgium and Luxembourg ...

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THE LICHENS OF BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG. AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST 27
The lichenological exploration of the study area
- a short historical overview
he lichens of Belgium and Luxembourg have been little studied, and most relevant
works are merely short notes or even just anecdotes included in excursion reports.
Several important landmarks can nevertheless be recognized, with several famous
names involved. The aim of this chapter is therefore to provide a short historical overview
of the lichenological exploration of the study area; it is mainly based on the synthesis
of J. Lambinon (1966, 1969).
Two undisputed personalities dominate the lichenological world in Belgium around the
mid XIXth century: M.-A. Libert and J. Kickx. M.-A. Libert (1782-1865) worked in the
Malmédy region, which at that time belonged to Germany and was later incorporated
into Belgium by the Versailles treaty (1919); this explains why her results were not
mentioned in the ‘Prodrome de la Flore de Belgique’ published beforehand (De Wildeman
1898). Whilst the four magnificent exsiccata fascicles she dedicated to the
Fig. 13. Title page of Libert’s
‘Plantae Cryptogamicae quas in
Arduenna collegit’ (1830).
Page de couverture des ‘Plantae
Cryptogamicae quas in Arduenna
collegit’ (1830) de Libert.
Titelpagina van Libert’s ‘Plantae
Cryptogamicae quas in Arduenna
collegit’ (1830).