By Salem S. Hunter, Tristen J. Pasternak, Amanda M. Chandler
Oct 13 2022
Dr. Héctor Saul Osorio, born in 1928 in Montevideo, was a Uruguayan lichenologist, pediatrician, and microbiologist who addressed everyone with whom he talked to about lichens as a colleague. He primarily focused on lichens within his home country of Uruguay, but also collected and researched in the surrounding areas of Argentina and Brazil. He spent much of his professional career at the Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo (MHMN).
Osorio’s introduction to studying lichens began at age sixteen, when he first started working at MHMN. It was at this time he received a box of duplicate specimens, which he identified and became enthralled on learning more about the fascinating world of lichenology. Two years into his self-taught lichen dive, Elke Mackenzie visited MHMN for three months after returning from an expedition in Antarctica. Osorio aided in the sorting, identification, and curation of the fresh specimens and gained much guidance and knowledge during this time. Mackenzie showed her gratitude by aiding in connecting Osorio with Adolf Hugo Magnusson, another successful lichenologist of the time.
In 1965, after going on to complete medical school with a focus in microbiology, Osorio published his first article about lichens, addressing the range of Parmeliaceae in Uruguay, revealing that he never lost sight of his passion for lichens. This article was one of many in a series called “Contribution to the Lichen Flora of Uruguay;” the series he then duplicated in Argentina and Brazil, aiming to understand the lichens endemic to these regions, often working on these undertakings with local lichenologists including Lidia Itatí Ferraro of Argentina. Over a hundred publications throughout his life showed his dedication to the field of lichenology.
One of Osorio’s main goals was to increase access to knowledge surrounding South American lichens, particularly for Latin Americans. He welcomed any lichenologist from around the world to join his quest for information on South American lichens, but another goal was to develop and maintain herbaria within South America in order to keep a history of lichens within reach of the localities they were collected from. Due to his charismatic nature, he had six species that have been named after him. His contributions to lichenology, particularly that of the regions he studied, have led to the development of knowledge on the lichens of South America that we know today.