3 December, 2007 - A team of Bhutanese foresters and biochemist, headed by an insect fungi scientist, Dr Nigel Hywel Jones, discovered a new species of cordyceps in the subtropical forest of Gedu, Chukha on October 30.

The new species has, for now, been named Cordyceps bhutanensis.

It is almost certain that the new species is found only in Bhutan, said Dr Nigel. “The parasite found living off Cordyceps bhutanensis is probably a new species too,” he said.

The Institute of Traditional Medicine Services (ITMS) biochemist Phurpa Wangchuk, who first spotted the fungus, said that the discovery of a new species of cordyceps is good news for Bhutanese farmers, if it has high edibility and medicinal values like the Yartsa Goenbub (Cordyceps Senensis). “We’ll study it and, if proven, it will be a gold mine for farmers. This time, not for the yak herders but for the cattle herders of the subtropical belt,” he said.

Gedu is located at an altitude of 1,900 to 2,100 metres above sea level.

Along with the cordyceps, the team also found about 50 species of insect fungi inhabiting Gedu forest during their study. The activity was funded through a grant from the Eurpean Commission.

Cordyceps senensis or Yartsa Goenbub is the main source of cash income for the highlanders in Bumthang, Thimphu, and Wangduephodrang. Last August, a kg of Yartsa Goenbub sold for Nu 98,000.