Skip to main content
Caterpillar Fungus, Yartsa Gunbu, Dong Chong Xia Cao
Ophiocordyceps sinensis, the caterpillar fungus, parasitizes the larvae of ghost moths (Hepialidae, mostly Thitarodes) in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas at 3,000-5,000 m. A dark brown, club-shaped stroma grows from the head of the mummified larva. It is valued in traditional Chinese, Tibetan and Nepalese medicine and trades at very high prices, although scientific support for its health benefits is insufficient.
Not a culinary mushroom; used as a traditional medicine. Wild-harvested specimens often contain high levels of arsenic and other heavy metals and can be toxic; China has regulated their sale since 2016. Product quality and labeling are inconsistent.
This page grows with the community. Here is what it is still missing:
Join WeMush to log cultivation data, discover strains, and connect with fellow growers.
Never eat a wild mushroom based on a web page — confirm with an expert.
Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
