What is the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Ophiocordycipitaceae)?

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a well-known insect fungus, naturally distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of Asia. It has been long known by its synonym Cordyceps sinensis both in scientific and non-scientific communities but was recently transferred to Ophiocordyceps. Over the last 300 years, the morphological characters of this taxon have been studied by different professionals and experts, such as religious persons, travelers, entomologists, pharmacologists and mycologists. Morphological descriptions of mature O. sinensis stroma based on recent studies are compared in this study with those of the type specimens of Berkeley (Lond J Bot. 2:205-211;1843). A literature review indicates that the specimens of Berkeley (1843) are immature. New names have been proposed for O. sinensis-like species from alpine regions, such as O. gansuënsis, O. crassispora, O. kangdingensis, O. multiaxialis and O. nepalensis, and it is not obvious how these differ from O. sinensis. Epitypification and revision of O. sinensis is, therefore, essential to resolve the taxonomic ambiguity of O. sinensis and related species. © 2010 Mycological Society of China.