Clades:
Clavicipitaceae;
Hypocreales; Sordariomycetes;
Ascomycota;
Fungi.
English: Winter worm; Summer plant.
Mythology: metamorphosis; invasion.
Use: medicinal, immunosuppresing in organ transplantation.
MycologySubstance produced by Tolypocladium niveum, anamorph of Cordyceps subsessilis. Tolypocladium niveum produces 25 cyclosporins. Cyclosporin A is used in trasplantations to prevent graft versus host reactions.
The fungus invades insects, especially ants, that become awkward, epileptic and climb high in grasses and die; the fungus develops further in the dead ant; Cordyceps subsessilis parasitises on scarab beetle larvae.