Yunnan discovery: Giant Dianjunus rex fungus found in China

Biologists have discovered a new species of giant fungus, named Dianjunus rex (or ‘D-rex’), in the forests of Yunnan, China. The specimen reaches heights of up to 50 cm and can weigh as much as 2.2 kg, making it one of the largest documented fruiting bodies within the Ascomycota phylum.

Researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany identified that the fungus belongs to an entirely new family, Dianjunaceae. The species was found growing at the base of Chinese cork oaks in various habitats, including temperate coniferous forests and tropical rainforests.

Molecular analysis suggests the family emerged approximately 65 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction. Scientists believe the abundance of dead plant matter following that extinction event may have created ecological niches that allowed such wood-decaying fungi to thrive. The name ‘Dianjunus’ refers to the ancient Dian Kingdom, while ‘rex’ denotes its imposing size.