Cordyceps sinensis

This is a fungus generally found on insects and other fungus. It is known to attack caterpillars and is prized in Traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used as a natural insecticide and some species are used today during organ transplants to help suppress the immune system.

Full: Cordyceps sinensis
Japanese: C. シネンシス, C. shinenshisu
Type: Fungus

Manga Notes:
A caterpillar fungus. They live in ghost moth caterpillars. They are called " winter worm summer grass" in China. (Ch 04) It attaches itself to a caterpillar and turns it into a "plant". Made famous by Magundan. (Ch 08)

Story Details:
This is first seen in the story at the upper classmen dorm room on the dead silk worms. Misato Kaoru and Kawahama Takuma ask Sawaki Tadayasu to help them identify any microbes that could be useful to make money. Sawaki sees the C. sinensis on one of the caterpillars that has died.