(photo: pupk.com)
Known as dongchong xiacao, the "winter-worm summer-herb" gets its name from its unique life cycle.
Growing mainly in highland meadows at heights of between 3,000 and 5,000 metres above sea level, the worm comes from a fungus that spends its whole life cycle living off one host - in this case, a moth.
It stays with the moth while it lives underground in the winter, then breaks through the soil in the summer to grow.
The worm was thought by Chinese traditional doctors to improve people's immunity to all illnesses, which it why was and is still so highly prized. (photo: pupk.com)
Editor: Donald |
