Many of the leading lichenologists at the time, such as James Crombie and Nylander, rejected Schwendener's hypothesis because the common consensus was that all living organisms were autonomous.
Muidugi ei olnud paljud teised tollased lihhenoloogid, nagu näiteks James Crombie ja Nylander, Schwendeneri hüpoteesiga päri, kuna valitses üldine konsensus, et kõik elavad organismid on autonoomsed.