How to form Cordyceps sinensis: It is a moth larva parasitic on alpine meadow soil by Cordyceps sinensis of Cladosporium, which makes the larva rigid. Under suitable conditions, it is formed by extracting a long rod-shaped daughter from the head of a stiff worm in summer (that is, the complex of the fruiting body of Cordyceps sinensis and the sclerotium of the stiff worm (the carcass of the larva)).

The real Cordyceps sinensis are all wild, growing on the grass slope near the snow line above the alpine grassland shrub belt at an altitude of 3000 to 5000 meters, which requires high natural environment. In summer, worm eggs are laid on the ground, and after a month or so, they hatch into larvae and then drill into the wet and soft soil layer. A mold in the soil invaded the larvae and grew in the larvae. After a winter, when the next spring comes, the mold hyphae begin to grow, and in summer, they grow out of the ground and look like a grass. In this way, the larva's body and the mold hyphae together form a complete "Cordyceps sinensis". The fungus spore takes the insect body as food and grows rapidly. The insect body is generally four to five centimeters, and the fungus spore can grow to the length of the insect body within one day. At this time, the Cordyceps sinensis is called "head grass" and has the best quality. The next day, the fungus spores grow to about twice the size of the worm, which is called "Ercao", and the quality is second. Because it grows roots when it becomes rigid, it is called Cordyceps sinensis.