About "The Lichen Collection at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe"

The collection of lichens was curated for many years by H. Schindler on a volunteer basis. He assembled about 14.000 vouchers that he left in perfect order. He collected many specimens abroad, but he was also very active in Southwest Germany. The last German record of Usnea fragilescens was collected by Bibinger and Schindler.

Since 2002, Prof. Volkmar Wirth, lichen expert and former director (2001-2008) has expanded the collection with further specimens, especially from his journeys to South Africa. He contributed many important records as well as type specimens.

The importance of our lichen collection was especially enhanced by the indefinite loan from the herbarium of Bausch (Heidelberg). Currently the Lichen collection of KR holds about 60.000 specimens.

Data Project and Service

The Lichen Collection of the SMNK is made available through Diversity Workbench. So far only about 4.000 of the lichen specimens have been specimens are digitized.

Scientific names follow the taxonomic concept valid when the current labels of the collection were created, or recent revisions. Because there is no automatic adjustment to nomenclature in the database, specimens of the same species might be listed under different names, depending on when these specimens where processed. Thus, the vouchers on which the data are based are of different taxonomic and nomenclatural levels of processing. Sometimes specimens, especially from the 18th and 19th century, have not yet been revised. Only recent collections were so far georeferenced, while georeferencing of older data is in progress, and only georeferenced vouchers are shown on the maps.

The collection and the datasets are maintained and expanded by the curator of vascular The collection and the datasets are maintained and expanded by the curator of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens Prof. Dr. Rainer Bussmann; data are organized by Dr. Florian Raub. Notices of errors of any kind are much appreciated by the editorial staff.

The Database "The Lichen Collection at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe" and – if not stated otherwise – its supporting files have been copyrighted © 2012–2024 by the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe.