The lichen flora of the Nordic countries,
containing about 2000 species, is regarded as one of the best known in the
world.Lichenological research of the region has been continuous since the time
of Erik Acharius (1757–1819), the "father of lichenology", but it is
a sad fact that there is no modern treatment of the region’s impressive lichen
flora, the last attempt in the 1870s being that of Th. M. Fries, his major work,
Lichenographia scandinavica, unfortunately remained unfinished.
A number of specialist lichenologists have united forces to
produce this much needed Nordic Lichen Flora. This, the fourth volume dedicated
to the family Parmeliaceae, includes 152 species, the editors, Arne Thell and
Roland Moberg, together with 11 colleagues, treating the 41 genera as separate
chapters.
The corticolous lichens of the Parmeliaceae are often dominant in the
landscape of northern boreal forests, as are members of the terricolous
Cladoniaceae, the reindeer lichens, the family to be treated in the next volume
of the Nordic Lichen
Flora.
