[[Prologue] [Mizugami Natural Forest] [Imoo National Woods] [From Nishinoko Preserved Forest through Gomada Mountain] [Epilogue: in Koya san]]

< [Mycologist Tour Tanabe-Mizugami-Imoo-Koya] < [Field notes] < [The Association of Minakata Kuamgusu Archives]

Mycological field works in Mizugami natural forest

Mizugami, Nakaheji, Mishimuro, Wakayama 2003.10.19

[Japanese version]

Mizugami natural forest (or Taya research forest, a private property), Nakaheji town (formerly Kurisugawa village, north-east of Tanabe), was one of Kumagusu's frequently visited research fields since 1908. This forest is said to keep until now the primeval laurel forest scenery of South Kii of pre-human day. When the participants arrived 'to observe the mushrooms and slime molds in Kumagusu's favorite forest', Mr Gotoh Takeshi and his two sons had just turned up there as well. This casual encounter suggests how few the laurel forests have become which still keep their original biological diversity today.

• Humam being Homo sapiens

• Slime molds Myxomycetes

• Collecting a slime mold Exemplum myxomycetis

• Imperfect fungus growing on a slime mold Fungus imperfectus super myxomycete

• Mushrooms Fungi

• Insects Insectae

• Higher plants Herbae

• Natural forest Silva naturalis

Photo by: Gotoh ([G]), Iwasaki ([I]), Matsui ([M]), N. Tanaka ([TN]), Y. Tamura ([TY]). Noted names of the species are of temporary identification.

Human being Homo sapiens non numquam insapiens

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Participants [Iwasaki (upper right), Matsui, Hagiwara,Yasuda (middle from top to bottom), Tanaka (bottom left)] and Mr Gotoh (holding a cane), observing on their own way. Professor Hagiwara and Mr Gotoh told the participants various observations and knowledge including the names of species found. [TY]

The same scene from above [Tamura (front), Hagiwara, Tanaka, Iwasaki (from left to right), Yasuda (behind)]. [M]

Slime molds Myxomycetes

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Lycogala epidendrum. [M]

Cribraria cancellata (= Dictydium cancellatum). [M]

Hemitrichia clavata var. calyculata. [M]

The same species? [TY]

Unknown slime mold of similar type. [I]

Carpophore of a Stemonitis sp.? One on the left hand is already dried out.[TY]

Collecting a slime mold Exemplum myxomycetis

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A kind of Trichia sp. or T. favoginea var. persimilis? [M]

Professor Hagiwara showed exemplarily how to treat a collected specimen. Taken a set of paper box kit out of his shoulder bag, cut the bark on which a slime mold grows with the folded knife hung under the belt, and then glued it to the bottom of the paper box. A knife folder is seen on Prof Hagiwara's right waist, and a viewing glass (loupe) with a red strap around his neck. [TY]

A slime mold on the bark was glued to a paper box. Unused paper box kits are also seen. Camera could not follow quick procedures of Prof Hagiwara. A god's hand, really... [TY]

Imperfect fungus growing on a slime mold Fungus imperfectus super myxomycete

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Prof Hagiwara found a kind of imperfect fungi with his viewing glass, and told the participants on a type of imperfect fungus which grows only on a specific kind of slime molds.

An imperfect fungus growing on trichia. sp. Small horn-shaped coremium are observed over a grainy yellow carpophore (close-up is bellow). [G]

Tanaka san won, to the envy of all other people, the author's sign on his copy of "Japanese slime molds", from Prof Hagiwara.

Mushrooms Fungi

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A cluster of Naematoloma fasciculare, close view [M] and environment [TN].

Comment of the picture-taker [Tanaka]: Hagiwara sensei urged me to 'eat and experience its bitter taste', and it was true. Later, however, I consulted with a reference book and found that

Causes stomachache, vomit, shiver or diarrhea within half an hour to three after ingestion. In worse cases, dehydration, acidosis, convulsion, shock, and even death may be resulted. (from: "Japanese toxic fungi")

... Hagiwara sensei, you knew everything, and made me have one!

Insects Insectae

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A large beautiful scarab Geotrupides auratus (perhaps what Kumagusu called 'Senchi mushi', or 'toilet bug'). On this day, we saw this species here as well as in Nishinoko preserved forest. This beetle eats dung of the mammals, and probably that is why it spontaneously comes close to human being. [TY]

When you walk along in the woods, this bug flies to the smell of your sweat. (...) This bug can live in the woods in which large mammals dwell abundantly. ("Kumano Nakaheji: the Nature of Ohtoh mountains" - 'Kumano Library 5', p 90).

Asagimadara butteflyParantica sita [M]. We appreciate Mr Gotoh Takeshi for his correction to our identification.

Higher plants Herbae

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Mikaeriso spike Leucosceptrum stellipilum. Latin taxonomical name means 'a bright sceptre with starry hair'. Japanese name 'mikaeri-so' is also said, as Mr Gotoh told us, to have derived from its beauty so as to '(let you unconcsciously) look back'. He added, however, 'though I myself don't find it so beautiful'. [TY]

A bee just hovered down on a flower of Chinese chirata Swertia bimaculata (left picture, centre) [TY] and a close view of the flower (right) [M].

A natural forest Silva naturalis

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Swelling, as if fermenting, skyline of a laurel forest in Sounth Kii, which supports the symbiosis of a numberless lives. [TY]