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Kumagusu's drawing of Trichia Myxomycete

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Picture: Kumagusu's drawing of Trichia affinis, a Myxomycete (c. 1930)

[Transcription of Japanese texts is presented in a separate page]

The picture above is Minakata Kumagusu's drawing of a Myxomycete (Chinese ink on Japanese paper). The specimen's scientific name, "Trichia affinis de Bary var. helvetica (Meylan)", and the record of collection details, "6th July 1930, Futatabi yama, Settsu [in today's Kobe city], collected by Koaze", are noted at the bottom. Koaze Shiro (1875-1951), the collector, was an executive of a maritime company living in Kobe who was assisting Kumagusu's researches on Myxomycetes. Kumagusu observed the specimen from Koaze to the minute details and recorded its traits both in terms of colours and forms.

cf: A few pictures of Trichia Myxomycetes are presented on the page of Mizugami natural forest: a mycological tour.

This drawing was pasted in the offprint (author's copy) of a mycological treatise "Japanese Mycetozoa" by Gulielma Lister (1860-1949), an authority of Myxomycetes on her day. The treatise was based largely on the specimens and information sent by Kumagusu since 1906 to Gulielma and her father Arthur, and the author praised Kumagusu's continued exertion using an extreme expression in the inscription at the top of its cover (see the image and transcription below). Kumagusu's tenacity of and life-long dedication to the research of Myxomycetes are symbolised by this addendum of yet another observation made 16 years after the publication of a treatise which itself had been a testimony of his academic contribution. (Tamura Yoshiya)

Note on terminology: Arthur and Gulielma Listers used a newer term of 'Mycetozoa' (consisting of Greek roots 'fungus' and '(animal) life') according to their supposition that this form of life was much closer to the animals than to the plants in the spectrum between them, and Minakata Kumagusu basically adopted this view. Today, however, the view of lives as a whole consisting of two kingdoms (animals and plants) has no longer been supported by researchers (cf five-kingdom classification, among many), and the older name of 'Myxomycetes' (= 'slime moulds') has become the current taxonomical group name for this mycological creature.

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Picture below: The offprint of Gulielma Lister's "Japanese Mycetozoa", Transactions of the British Mycological Society", Worcester, 1914, Vol 5, (Catalogue of Minakata Kumagusu Materials No. [Offprint 113]): an authour's copy in Minakata Kumagusu's old library. As to the author's inscription at the top, see the enlarged and brightened picture far below.

To Kumagusu Minakata
with sincere thanks for his invaluable
services to the cause of Mycetozoa
from G. Lister

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