Wildlife & Flora
Yarsagumba
Yarsagumba (Cordyceps sinensis) is a wildlife & flora sighting recorded around Lower Pisang, Humde, Khangsar.
- Scientific name
- Cordyceps sinensis
- Local name
- Yarsaa Gumbaa
- Category
- Wildlife & Flora
The scientific name does sound like some spell from the Harry Potter books. And just like in the books, these creatures are magical, yes creatures. Cordyceps is actually a parasitic fungus that grows on a caterpillar until the caterpillar dies and the mushroom sprouts from the caterpillar's head. The meaning of Yarsagumba is "summer grass winter worm" in Tibetan. Yarsagumba has the ability to tonify lungs and kidneys. It is also used to cure a chronic cough and asthma, spontaneous sweating, weakness after a long illness and impotence. During June-July thousands of people from all over Nepal go to highlands in western Nepal in Dolpo, Manang, Manaslu to collect this miracle herb which sells for up to USD 20,000 per kilogram. The current international market prices for this herb can go up to USD 75,000 per kilogram for the highest quality ones.
