An Incursion For Power Fungus

In the disputed highlands along the border between China and India, a strange medicinal plant provides military cover.

Cordyceps sinensis, a fungus from the Himalayas, inhabits and grows from the bodies of insects (here a caterpillar)—and that’s just the beginning. Photo: Heathen Healing.

It’s referred to as the “Chinese love flower” but we don’t think that’s a very nice thing to say about the Chinese, or love—or flowers either. Just look at it.

This is a fungus, Cordyceps sinensis—an entomopathogenic fungus, meaning it grows on and, in time, into and out of insects. That’s hard on insects—lethal, as a matter of fact—as well as enormously weird and disgusting (just our opinion).

You might call its growth habit an “incursion.” But it’s human incursion into the fugus’s habitat, the very high territory along the China/India border, that prompted the Telegraph’s recent story about this plant.

Indian officials are claiming that small groups of Chinese troops, forces with the People’s Liberation Army, have been coming across “the disputed MacMahon Line” that separates the two countries. Dean Nelson writes that crossing the line “remains highly sensitive for both countries which fought a border war in 1962 in which China captured but later returned Tawang district, which it claims is part of Tibet” – also considered disputed territory. This moist, mountainous environment, between 10,000-12,000 feet in altitude, is where Cordyseps sinensis grows.

Weighing precious fungus in Gyegu-Yushu, Southern Qinghai, China, July 2009. Photo: via wiki.

The minister of Arunachal Pradesh says the Chinese trespassers “come, stay there for a while and then go back….When they meet locals or are challenged by security officials, the Chinese military personnel usually say they have entered Indian territory to collect wild fungus from the mountains. They call it the ‘love flower.’”

It’s quite common for flowers to serve as a distraction – drawing attention pleasantly away from homely brides or the stench of corpses. But in this case, plants seem to be covering up for military maneuvering; they’re a pretext for advancing troops.

Who’s heard the Chinese side of the story? PLA soldiers in India may be AWOL. Or they could simply be moonlighting: The Telegraph reports that Cordyceps sinesis is highly valued in Chinese medicine (much more precious on the north side of the MacMahon line than to the South, in India). Dried “Chinese love flower” has sold for as much as $900 an ounce in China and prices are climbing.

Here’s a good bit more about the fungus from Jacqueline M. Newman. She says this peculiar substance has been used medicinally since “at least since 300 BCE.” Formerly known as “winter-worm summer-grass,” it was said “to regulate sexual organs.”

Wang Junxia broke world records in the 3,000 and 10,000 meter events in 1993. Her coach said she and winning teammates had been stoked up on Chinese love flower. Photo: Getty.

Sex meds are sure to fetch high prices, but we learn that Cordyceps sinesis has been used for many other human purposes too: to suppress the immune system (used in organ transplantation), improve digestion, build bone marrow, aid those with insulin resistance, and combat depression. Newman writes that nowadays the fungus can be cultivated “on grains,” no insect bodies required, but most Chinese customers want theirs gathered the old fashioned way: from the carapaces of dead bugs discovered in the mountains.

Nobody seems as hip to the multifaceted magic of Cordyceps sinesis as the Chinese. According to wiki, “the fungus drew international attention when in 1993 three Chinese runners broke world records at the National Games in Beijing.” All those top speeds coming out of one track meet smelled fishy, and sport authorities expected the victorious women to test positive for steroids. “However, the athletes’ tests revealed no illegal substances, and coach Ma Junren told reporters that the runners were taking Cordyceps at his request.”

From our friend Sandy Ao in Kolkata: “I got this a packet of this worm from a friend. I was told it is very good for health, cleans blood, etc.,etc….But I am not very adventurous about food and I normally like to eat vegetables and fruits only. I have kept this packet of worms in the fridge. May be I will try to cook this for my husband, who is very brave for any thing that is strange!!” they look a bit like McFries to us, Sandy. Photo: Sandy Ao.

To its common names – “Chinese love flower,” “club head,” and “deer fungus” – perhaps should be added “racer’s worm” and “MacMahon Camouflage.”