Quick Facts
| Intro | German lichenologist |
| A.K.A. | Aino Marjatta Henssen, Henssen |
| Was | Botanist Scientist Lichenologist Educator |
| From | Germany |
| Field | Academia Biology Science |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 12 April 1925, Elberfeld, Wuppertal, Düsseldorf Government Region, North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Death | 29 August 2011, Marburg, Marburg-Biedenkopf, Giessen Government Region, Hesse (aged 86 years) |
| Star sign | Aries |
Biography
Aino Marjatta Henssen (12 April 1925, Elberfeld – 29 August 2011, Marburg), was a German lichenologist and systematist. Her father, Gottfried Henssen, was a folklorist and her mother was Finnish.
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. She was later appointed to the position of Associate Professor for thallophyte studies. She retired in 1990.
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. 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.
Awards
Henssen was given a scholarship from the American Association of University Women. In 1992, she was honored with an Acharius Medal.
Species described with year of publication
- Ephebe americana Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe brasiliensis (Vain.) Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe epheboides (F.Wilson) Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe fruticosa Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe hispidula (Ach.) Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe japonica Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe multispora (Å.E.Dahl) Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe ocellata Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe orthogonia Henssen, 1963
- Ephebe trachytera (Nyl. ex Vain.) Henssen, 1963
- Santessoniella arctophila (Th.Fr.) Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella chilensis (Hue) Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella elongata Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella grisea (Hue) Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella luctuosa (Hue) Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella polychidioides (Zahlbr.) Henssen, 1997
- Santessoniella rosettiformis Henssen, 2000
- Santessoniella rugosa Henssen & Kantvilas, 2000
- Stromatella bermudana (Riddle) Henssen, 1989
