Chinese caterpillar mushroom

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Chinese caterpillar mushroom
Cordyceps sinensis.jpg

Chinese caterpillar fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis )

Systematics
Class : Sordariomycetes
Subclass : Hypocreomycetidae
Order : Crust ball mushrooms (Hypocreales)
Family : Ophiocordycipitaceae
Genre : Ophiocordyceps
Type : Chinese caterpillar mushroom
Scientific name
Ophiocordyceps sinensis
( Berk. ) GH Sung , JM Sung , Hywel-Jones & Spatafora

The Chinese caterpillar fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ), also Tibetan caterpillar mushroom or Tibetan caterpillar mushroom , is a hose fungus (Ascomycota) from the group of core clubs that attack caterpillars. It is endemic to the highlands of Tibet . The mushroom plays a role in traditional Chinese medicine and is a sought-after medicinal mushroom . The minor crop form is Paecilomyces hepiali .

features

The Chinese caterpillar fungus forms stalked collective fruiting bodies ( stromata ). These are slender club-shaped, brown in color and 8–15 cm high. The size can vary, probably due to the type of caterpillar infected. The fruiting body becomes about twice, rarely up to four times as long as the infected caterpillar. The spore-bearing parts ( perithecia ) are formed in the upper third of the stroma.

Ecology and phenology

The Chinese caterpillar fungus can be found in grass and shrubland, which receives at least 350 mm, but usually at least 400 mm of rainfall per year . Scaled sedge are predominantly found in the habitat . The infested caterpillars feed on young roots of the knotweed family , legumes , sour grass family (including scallop sedge), sweet grass and lily family . By grazing in the highlands of Tibet the habitat of the fungus has been significantly increased. It grows at altitudes between 3000  m and 5000  m . It occurs locally in an area of ​​500 meters above sea level around the tree line .

The fungus attacks caterpillars of the genus Thitarodes , which belongs to the butterfly family of rootworms (Hepialidae). This affects 30 species of the 40 or so species of this butterfly genus known from the Tibetan highlands. The infected caterpillars survive the winter in the ground, although they are less deep than uninfected animals. In spring, the fruiting body emerges from the caterpillar's head above the surface of the earth. During the development of the fungus, the substrate is increasingly decomposed until only the soft outer shell remains, which is filled with the mycelium of the fungus.

The fruiting bodies appear in spring from May, on the eastern slopes from mid-April. The fructification lasts until mid-June, at higher altitudes until mid-July. In some regions, the fungus can be found at different altitudes for almost two months. Overdue specimens can survive into August.

The fructification is said to be favored by the high amounts of precipitation in the monsoons that occur earlier . Large amounts of snow in winter have a similar effect, especially in a mild spring. Long-lasting snow cover, however, results in the disintegration of numerous fruiting bodies.

distribution

The Chinese caterpillar fungus is endemic to the highlands of Tibet. In this area it is widespread in the southwest and a little less dense in the south. The area runs along the entire southern border of the Tibet Autonomous Region and extends to the core area of distribution over the entire eastern part of Tibet and throughout the southeastern province of Qinghai and the entire north-western province of Sichuan also on the extreme southwest and the outermost Northwest of Gansu and Yunnan provinces . The southern foothills extend to the north of Nepal , Bhutan and India . In addition, the fungus is reported from the Tian Shan and Altai in Xinjiang .

Danger

So far, no decline in the occurrence of the Chinese caterpillar fungus has been observed. A decrease in the per capita yield is reported by the collectors, which is attributed to the steadily increasing competition. Also on the part of the dealers no decrease in the available quantities is observed. Studies on the long-term effects of intensive collecting have not yet existed. According to estimates, the potential risk to the fungus is moderate.

meaning

Cultural history

The Chinese caterpillar mushroom has probably been collected and used for at least 1,000 years. The mushroom was first mentioned in traditional Tibetan medicine in the 15th century by the doctor Surkhar Nyamnyi Dorje (1439–1475). It is first recorded in traditional Chinese medicine by Wang Ang in 1694 . In the literature of the western world , the first evidence is found in 1736 by the Jesuit priest Jean-Baptiste Du Halde , who was treated with the mushroom by an imperial doctor. The trade of the Chinese caterpillar mushroom between Tibet and China dates back to at least the 17th century. The Tibetans used it as an exchange commodity for tea and silk . The mushroom is still partly used as currency today.

Today the mushroom is valued mainly in the People's Republic of China and other parts of East Asia . It has become a symbol of wealth and is often used as a gift. In addition, it has developed into a culinary status symbol in China, which is particularly important for the Chinese New Year . In addition, the mushroom is also in great demand in Japan and Korea. The Chinese caterpillar mushroom in unprocessed form has not yet been widespread in the western markets. The products offered are mostly pills, made from the mycelium of the fungus, which is artificially grown.

The profitable source of income for the Chinese caterpillar mushroom collectors has brought about profound changes in the social and economic conditions in the region over the past 15 years. Income favors access to medical care, training, transportation (especially motorcycles), consumer goods and bank loans. In addition, goods and services within the rural population are increasingly paid for in cash than z. B. by barter . Especially the inhabitants in the core area of ​​the distribution area of ​​the Chinese caterpillar fungus are now heavily dependent on the income from collecting activities.

etymology

Tibetan name
Tibetan script :
དབྱར་ རྩྭ་ དགུན་ འབུ
Wylie transliteration :
dbyar rtswa dgun 'bu
Pronunciation in IPA :
[ jaːtsa kỹpu ]
Official transcription of the PRCh :
Yarza Gunbu
THDL transcription :
Yartsa Günbu
Other spellings:
Yartsa Gunbu Nepali = Yarsagumba
Chinese name
Traditional :
冬蟲夏草
Simplified :
冬虫夏草
Pinyin :
Dōngchóng Xiàcǎo

The Tibetan name, Jartsa Gunbu (in anglicized form also “ Y artsa Gunbu” ), literally means “summer grass winter worm”. Its Chinese name dong chong xia cao is a (reverse) literal translation of the Tibetan name; it literally means "winter worm summer grass". The Chinese caterpillar fungus got its species name sinensis from Miles Joseph Berkeley because it was first found by Europeans in Chinese markets.

Collection activity

Between 1956 and 1981, the collection of the Chinese caterpillar fungus was ordered by the state, with certain quotas being observed. These were mostly 3 copies that had to be passed on to the authorities; further finds were traded.

Due to the high demand, participation in the commercial collecting activity is very high today. In some districts (e.g. Dêngqên ) this is over half of the total population. Hundreds of millions of specimens of the Chinese caterpillar fungus are collected in its natural range every year. Exact data on collected quantities are lacking for many areas; Estimates assume a total of 140 to 150 tons per year. The collectors are shepherds and farmers, as well as a few townspeople who camp in the mushroom's range during the collecting season. Larger warehouses are mostly on streets and often have grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment options such as pool tables . Often the mushrooms are sold straight from the camps.

The daily yield of a collector is between a few to several dozen , usually between 5 and 10 copies. A find brings in about 8 to 16 yuan , which is about half a day of road building work. In one day, three to seven times the normal wage in this region or even the salary of a whole month can be achieved.

In most regions of Tibet a permit is given to collect the mushroom. The costs for local residents are between 10 and 300 yuan per person per season. For immigrants, including residents of neighboring districts, the price is significantly higher; in 2006 it was up to 4,000 yuan. In some districts such as Riwoqê or Dêngqên , collective bans have been issued for outsiders. This led to civil unrest and even rioting with some deaths in 2004 and 2005.

In large parts of the highlands of Tibet, the collection of the Chinese caterpillar mushroom is the most important source of income. In the Tibet Autonomous Region , trade in the mushroom makes up 8.5% of the gross domestic product and thus the most important economic sector in the region (2004). For the rural population of this region (93%), the share of the total per capita income in cash from collecting is 25%; the share of total income is at least 40%. In Qamdo and Nagqu , which are among the main collection areas, collecting accounts for 70 to 90% of household income.

The FAZ reported on the importance of the mushroom in some areas of Nepal on January 23, 2016.

value

The valuable caterpillar fungus is precisely weighed.

The Chinese caterpillar mushroom has been valued for centuries and is still used as currency today. During the Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976, the mushroom market collapsed. At that time, one kg cost 21 yuan. From the 1980s onwards, prices rose very quickly. The value of the Chinese caterpillar mushroom increased roughly nine-fold between 1997 and mid-2008. In mid-2008 he achieved z. B. in Lhasa a price between 60,000 and 160,000 yuan per kg. In Shanghai at the time, high-quality specimens were selling for up to 320,000 yuan per kg. The pills obtained from the mycelium only fetch a fraction of these prices.

The quality of the caterpillar fungus is mainly determined by the size of the infected caterpillar, but also by the size ratio of the stroma and the caterpillar and the firmness of the caterpillar. The latter two characteristics are indicative of the age of the fungus and depend on when it was picked. The highest price is achieved by specimens whose stromata are about as long as the caterpillar. At this stage, the potency of the mushroom is considered to be the highest, which makes these particularly desirable. The Tibetans call it nga bu , which means something like "formerly Jartsa Gunbu ". At this point in time, the reproductive organs ( perithecia ) have not yet developed. By removing the fungus from the soil, its development is interrupted. Older specimens, in which the caterpillar has been severely decomposed, are left at the place where they were found because they are almost worthless. In Tibetan, the mushroom is then called tshar bu , which roughly means "finished Jartsa Gunbu ".

Use and medicinal effects

The Chinese caterpillar mushroom is often cooked with chicken or duck .

In traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine, the Chinese caterpillar mushroom is seen as invigorating and aphrodisiac . After China's success at the 1992 Summer Olympics , Chinese athletes said they had previously ingested the Chinese caterpillar mushroom. It is also used against lung , liver , kidney and cardiovascular problems and back pain .

Research suggests that the fungus works against tumors , including cancer , and viruses . In addition, immune and cholesterol regulating , antioxidant effects as well as an increase in endurance and libido were observed.

Movies

  • The miracle mushroom from Tibet. France, 2008

swell

literature

  • Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). Production and Sustainability on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas . In: Asian Medicine . tape 5 , 2009, p. 291–316 ( PDF; 2.21 MB [accessed August 21, 2013]).
  • Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu ( Cordyceps sinensis ) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy . In: Economic Botany . tape 62 , no. 3 , 2008, p. 291–305 ( PDF; 521 kB [accessed on August 21, 2013]).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Paul Kirk: Ophiocordyceps sinensis. In: Species Fungorum. Retrieved August 16, 2013 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 294.
  3. ^ A b c Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 295.
  4. ↑ a b c Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 292.
  5. ^ A b Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 301.
  6. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 292 ff.
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 294.
  8. ↑ a b c d e f Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 298.
  9. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 298.
  10. ↑ a b c d e f Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 297.
  11. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 302 ff.
  12. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 295 f.
  13. ↑ a b c d e Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 297.
  14. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 299 f.
  15. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 297 f.
  16. ↑ The Viagra of the Himalayas. FAZ of January 23, 2016, page 8
  17. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 294 ff.
  18. ^ A b Daniel Winkler: Caterpillar Fungus ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ). P. 295.
  19. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 291.
  20. ↑ Rich Gravelin: Boost energy with cordyceps: this Chinese fungus helps athletes go further . In: Natural Health . Weider Publications, August 2002 ( quotation ).
  21. ↑ Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis) and the Fungal Commodification of Tibet's Rural Economy. P. 293.

further reading

  • Daniel Winkler: The Tibetan caterpillar mushroom: Yartsa Gunbu . In: Karin Montag (Ed.): The Tintling - The Pilzzeitung . tape 52 , 2007, p. 39–43 ( online [accessed 23 August 2013]).
  • Daniel Winkler: Yartsa Gunbu - Cordyceps sinensis . Economy, Ecology & Ethno-mycology of a Fungus Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau . In: A. Boesi & F. Cardi (eds.): Wildlife and plants in traditional and modern Tibet: Conceptions, Exploitation and Conservation. Memorie della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano . tape 33.1 , 2005, pp. 69–85 ( PDF; 243 kB ( Memento from May 14, 2015 in the Internet Archive )).
  • Alessandro Boesi, Francesca Cardi: Cordyceps sinensis Medicinal Fungus. Traditional Use among Tibetan People, Harvesting Techniques, and Modern Uses . In: HerbalGram . No. 83 . American Botanical Council, 2009, pp. 52-61 ( online [accessed August 23, 2013]).
  • Michael Finkel : Tibetan gold . In: National Geographic . No. 10 , 2012, p. 126-141 .
  • X. Zhou, CU Meyer: Cordyceps sinensis . ( PDF; 31 kB [accessed on August 24, 2013]).

Web links

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