Aino Marjatta Henssen (12 April 1925, Elberfeld – 29 August 2011, Marburg[1]), was a German lichenologist and systematist. Her father, Gottfried Henssen, was a folklorist and her mother was Finnish.[2]

Education and career

Henssen began her studies in Biology in Freiburg, Germany, before continuing in Marburg, Germany. She obtained her doctorate in 1953, which focused on the physiology of Spirodela polyrhiza. In 1963, she became the curator of the Botanisches Institut at Philipps-Universität in Marburg, Germany. Following her habilitation in 1965, she was appointed in 1970 to the position of Associate Professor for thallophyte studies. She retired in 1990.[3]

Contributions

Henssen made many advancements to the taxonomic knowledge of cyanolichens and wrote a textbook on the subject. This book reorganized the taxonomic classification and connected lichen families to evolutionary clades. She later focused on actinomycetes during her postdoctoral at the Institute for Bacteriology in Berlin, leading to the discovery of two new genera, Pseudonocardia Henssen and Thermomonospora Henssen.[4] She was passionate towards her field work, which took her around the world to collect specimens. Over the years, Henssen published many scientific articles on topics relating to lichens, fungi and the systematics of these groups.

Recognition

Henssen was given a scholarship from the American Association of University Women. In 1992, she was honored with an Acharius Medal.[5]^{[citation needed]}

Eponymy

Several lichens have been named to honour Henssen, including: Ainoa which is a genus of lichens in the family Baeomycetaceae Lumbsch & I.Schmitt (2001).[6] And also the species of; Caloplaca hensseniana Kalb (1990); Diploschistes hensseniae Lumbsch & Elix (1985); Gyalidea hensseniae Hafellner, Poelt & Vězda (1990); Lecanora hensseniae Vänskä (1986); Nephroma hensseniae P.James & F.J.White (1987); Parmotrema hensseniae Krog (1990); Rhizocarpon hensseniae Brodo (1990); Rimularia hensseniae Hertel & Rambold (1990); Stephanocyclos henssenianus Hertel (1983); and Xanthoparmelia hensseniae O.Blanco, A.Crespo, Elix, D.Hawksw. & Lumbsch (2004).[7]

See also

• Category:Taxa named by Aino Henssen

References

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Aino Henssen.

• Biography at lichenology.org