A fungus that grows from the body of a ghost-moth caterpillar; its name, yartsa gunbu, means 'summer grass, winter worm'.
- Group: Fungus
- Plant type: Fungus lichen
- Habitats: Alpine meadow
- Regions: Ü Tsang, Kham, Amdo
Habitat and distribution
High alpine meadows of the plateau and Himalaya, often close to permafrost.
Recorded in Ü-Tsang, Kham, Amdo.
Ecological and cultural significance
A prized medicine and the most important source of cash for many Tibetan families.
Threats
Over-harvesting and warming are reducing harvests, according to Hopping and colleagues (2018).
Conservation
Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.