Celebration of the books "Alfons Piterāns. Lichen herbarium" opening.

The Museum of the University of Latvia (LU) invites you to the celebration of the books' "Alfons Piterāns. Lichen herbarium" opening on August 27 at 15:00. It will take place in the'LU Botanical Gardens' event room "Šķūnis". The book "Lichen herbarium" prepared by Alfons Piterāns is the fourth edition in the Museum's series dedicated to a unique part of the collection - the life work of A. Piterāns, the lichen herbarium.

Unfortunately, the state emeritus researcher A. Piterāns passed away on February 19, 2024 at the age of 93, without waiting for the publication of this book, so the LU Museum dedicates the last printed work of Latvia's leading lichen researcher to his memory.

A. Piterān's working life was connected for 66 years with the University of Latvia: in 1958 he started working at the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Biology of the Latvian State University, in 1968 he became a senior lecturer, and in 1970 he was elected an assistant professor. Docent A. Piterāns gave lectures on systematics of lower plants, plant morphology, ecology, algology, lichenology and botany, spec courses in lichenology and bioindication, hydrobiology, supervised laboratory work and student summer internships. He involved students in lichen research, raised the next generation of Latvian lichenologists.

A. Piterāns began researching lichens with studies of the lichen flora of the Daugava Valley, later he went on research expeditions to Slīteres Reserve, Gauja National Park, Moritssala Reserve, Ziemeļvidzeme Biosphere Reserve and other floristically interesting places. He has used the results of these studies in many scientific and popular scientific publications, textbooks and methodological materials, as well as created the first "Synopsis of Latvian lichens", gathering information about 503 species of lichens growing in Latvia.

Having retired, A. Piterāns did not stop working - he continued to work until the last days of his life: he identified lichen samples and organized the collections in the LU Museum, leaving a rich collection of lichen samples for students, researchers and other interested parties.

More information: muzejs@lu.lv

Photo: LU