New giant mushroom species discovered in Yunnan, China

Researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have discovered a new mushroom species named ‘Dianjunus rex’ in the tropical and subtropical forests of Yunnan province, China.

The species is notable for its unusual size, with specimens reaching heights of 20 to 50 centimeters. While most samples weighed between 250 and 600 grams, the largest specimen recorded reached 2.2 kilograms. Scientists noted that it possesses one of the largest reproductive structures ever recorded within the Ascomycota group. Unlike typical capped mushrooms, ‘Dianjunus rex’ is characterized by a distinct upright and fleshy structure.

In addition to the new species, the study identified a previously unknown fungal family called ‘Dianjunaceae’. Genetic and evolutionary analyses suggest this lineage dates back approximately 65 million years, emerging following the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event. The findings were published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Fungal Biology.