Cordyceps sinensis
English: Caterpillar fungus; Deer fungus; Club-head fungus.
Local: Yartsa Gunbu.
Synonyms: Cordyceps ophioglossoides; Ophiocordyceps sinensis.
Tibetan: dbyar rtswa dgun 'bu, meaning winter worm, summer grass; Dōng chóng xià cǎo.
Region: mountainous regions of India, Nepal and Tibet.
Habitat: in high and cold mountainous regions.
Content: proteins, carbohydrates, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, uracil, uridine, adenine, adenosine, antibiotic and anti-tumour compound; cyclosporin.
Use: to treat diseases of lungs, kidney, erectile dysfunction.
Mycology
Entomopathogenic fungus; mould phase, attracting insects, ants, termites, mosquitos; parasitizes larvae of ghost moths and produces a fruiting body which is valued as a herbal remedy; germinates in the living larva, kills and mummifies it; the stalk-like fruiting body emerges from the corpse.