Giant fungus 'D-rex' discovered in China's Yunnan forests
New species Dianjunus rex stands 50 cm tall and weighs up to 2.2 kg, the largest known fruiting body among ascomycete fungi
Scientists have discovered a giant new fungus in the forests of Yunnan, China, whose upright reproductive structures reach 50 centimetres in height and weigh up to 2.2 kilograms, making it the largest known fruiting body among ascomycete fungi. Evolutionary analysis suggests the lineage of the fungus, named Dianjunus rex and nicknamed 'D-rex', dates back roughly 65 million years to just after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.