冬虫夏草由虫体与从虫头出的真菌子座相连而成。虫体似蚕，长3-5cm，直径0.3-0.8cm；表面深黄色至黄棕色，有环纹20-30个，近头部的环纹较细；头部红棕色；足8对，中部4对较明显；质脆，易折断，断面略平坦，淡黄白色。子座细长圆柱形，长4-7cm，直径约0.3cm；表面深棕色至棕褐色，有细纵皱纹，上部稍膨大；质柔韧，断面类白色。
https://www.douban.com/note/780289683/
https://www.douban.com/note/780290231/
https://www.douban.com/note/780290901/
https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv7899621
https://www.douban.com/note/780293143/
https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv7899998
https://www.douban.com/note/780294983/
https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv7900128
https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv7900390