Sānjiǎofānbàng shì Zhōngguó dànshuǐ zhēnzhū de zhǔyào láiyuán.
Hyriopsis cumingii is the main source of China's freshwater pearls.
Tips
memory
The name is a literal description: the shell has a tall triangular 'sail' (帆) rising from one side, giving it a distinctive triangular outline. Visualize a small sailboat shape at the bottom of a pond.
culture
China produces the vast majority of the world's freshwater pearls, most from 三角帆蚌 farmed in Zhejiang. A single mussel can be implanted with 20-40 nuclei and produce pearls for 3-5 years.
