After a brief historical survey of the developments of vegetation science in general, and of lichen community studies in particular, this paper presents critical comments on some of the main methodological problems in the study of lichen vegetation, with particular regard to the phytosociological approach. It is suggested that in the description and classification of lichen communities lichenologists should avoid the inflation of community names that characterize the present state of the phytosociology of phanerogamic vegetation. This can be accomplished on the basis of a sound methodological approach, where the use of numerical methods can play a major role.