Gustaf Einar Du Rietz

Gustaf Einar du Rietz
Einar Du Rietz in 1932
Born	(1895-04-25)25 April 1895 Bromma
Died	7 March 1967(1967-03-07) (aged 71) Uppsala
Nationality	Swedish
Alma mater	Uppsala University
Spouse(s)	Greta Sernander, divorced 1951;Margareta Witting
Children	4
Scientific career
Fields	Lichenology, phytosociology
Institutions	Uppsala University
Author abbrev. (botany)	Du Rietz[1]

Gustaf Einar Du Rietz (25 April 1895 – 7 March 1967) was a Swedish botanist and lichenologist. His research interests included plant ecology, lichen taxonomy, and biogeography. He was a leading figure in the Uppsala school of phytosociology–the study of groups of species of plants that are usually found together–and is recognised for his role in advancing this field of science and for mentoring future lichenologists. He led the Swedish Australasian Botanical Expedition of 1926–27, a seven-month research tour of various locations. He was married to Greta Sernander, who was also a lichenologist. During the expedition, Du Rietz and his wife researched the vegetation in New Zealand, Australia, and Java, focusing on mountain lichens and their potential as bioindicators for environmental conditions. They collected around 3000 specimens, contributing significantly to the study of bipolar lichens and forest ecology, despite challenges in processing all the samples upon return to Sweden. Several species have been named in his honour. In 1949, Du Rietz was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and contributed significantly to nature conservation efforts in Sweden.