William Borrer's lichens in the Supplement to the English Botany 1829-1866

Abstract

Fifty-seven lichens were documented in Hooker's Supplement to the English Botany, published in five volumes from 1829 to 1866, when British lichenology was, until 1851, largely in a state of stagnation. These included 26 new lichens described by William Borrer, one of which, Verrucaria Hookeri (now Dacampia hookeri), has proved to be a lichenicolous lichen. The merit of his work is discussed. One new species, namely Strigula Babingtonii, was described by the Reverend Miles Joseph Berkeley, but this is now regarded as a non-lichenized ascomycete fungus. An attempt was made to trace the whereabouts of all the type specimens, and only one could not be located. The current taxonomic status of the new species was investigated by the critical study of original references. No names require correction, but the authorities for Bacidia incompta (Borrer) Anzi and Verrucaria fuscella (Turner) Winch & Thornhill need emendation. The copyright dates of the plates are given, which should be accepted as those of publication. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London.