Iwasaki Tsunemasa also Kan-en ( or , 1786–1842) was a Japanese

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, zoologist and

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

. He was also a samurai in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate. He wrote: * ''Bukō-sanbutsu-shi'' a work on the natural history of the Edo district including botany zoology and entomology as lists. * ''Honzō Zufu'' (Iconographia Plantarum or Diagrams and Chronicles of Botany) a woodblock illustrated work (1828, 1884, 1920, 1921 in 93 volumes). Plants only. * ''Honzō Sen'yō'' (Essentials to the study of plants and animals). Unpublished. Two volumes includes insects and gives some Dutch names. Some editions include the Binomial nomenclature introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. * ''Sōmoku-sodategusa'' (Cultivation of Flowering Plants). Two volumes of woodcut illustrations (1818).Includes 13 Ukiyo-e of insects which cause plant damage. One was '' Papilio xuthus'' which fed on fragrant citrus. He described the larva with its

osmeterium The osmeterium is a defensive organ found in all papilionid larvae, in all stages. The organ is situated in the prothoracic segment and can be everted when the larva feels threatened. The everted organ resembles a fleshy forked tongue (not unlik ...

External links

Kew Gallery of Kan'en Iwasaki

''Honzō Zufu'' images (1830 and 1844 edition)
at

National Diet Library The is the national library of Japan and among the largest libraries in the world. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to ...

''Honzō Zufu'' images
at University of Tokyo

References

Ueno Masuzo (year?) Japanese entomology in the first half of the nineteenth century ''Japanese journal of entomology'' Vol.27, No.1(19590315) pp. 4–9 The Entomological Society of Japan Japanese entomologists 1786 births 1842 deaths Botanical illustrators {{Japan-scientist-stub