Miscellaneous News

Giant Fungus Discovered in China

October 17 , 2026 15 hrs 0 min 29 0

Scientists discovered a giant fungus, Dianjunus rex (D-rex), in Yunnan Province, China.
It grows up to 50 cm tall and weighs up to 2.2 kg, making it the largest known fruiting body in the fungal phylum Ascomycota.
It represents a new species, genus (Dianjunus) and family (Dianjunaceae) under the order Xylariales.
Genetic analysis estimates that its family originated around 65 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction.
It grows on woody roots.