Yartsa Gunbu - Cordyceps sinensis. Economy - Home

Figure 2 - Cordyceps sinensis freshly dug and partially cleaned laying on Arenaria. Note the
caterpillar base and the well-developed asci at the top of the stroma. Photo: D. Winkler, June 26,
1997, Bachen County, 4,400 m, Tibet AR.
Figure 3 - Cordyceps sinensis freshly exposed in situ. Note the asci have not developed at the top
of the stroma and thus this specimen is being harvested before it can produce propagules
(=spores). Photo: D. Winkler, April 24, 2004, near Gye La, 4,000 m, Kangding County, Kandze
TAP, West Sichuan.
Figure 4 - A family camping out in the grasslands to collect yartsa gunbu. Light snow fall is not
uncommon during the season. Photo: D. Winkler, May 2, 2000, Lithang County, 4,450m, Kandze
TAP, West Sichuan.
Figure 5 - Yartsa gunbu hunter camp at Chungba (Junba) La in Lithang County. Photo: D.
Winkler, May 1, 2000, Lithang County, 4,200 m, Kandze TAP, West Sichuan.
Figure 6 - Yartsa gunbu dealers sitting around a small pile of drying Cordyceps in Lithang town.
Photo: D. Winkler, June 5, 1999, Lithang County, 4,010 m, Kandze TAP, West Sichuan.
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