Newfound giant fungus D. rex stands nearly 2 feet tall

Key Points:

• Scientists have identified Dianjunus rex, a giant species of fungus discovered in Yunnan province, China, notable for its large pale yellowish fruiting bodies that can grow up to 20 inches tall and weigh nearly 5 pounds.
• D. rex belongs to a newly recognized fungal family, Dianjunaceae, which likely emerged about 1 million years after the dinosaur extinction event 65 million years ago, thriving on abundant dead organic matter.
• This species is the largest known member of the Ascomycota phylum, surpassing previous records and raising questions about why it evolved such an unusually large size compared to related fungi.
• The towering fruiting bodies of D. rex may enhance spore dispersal above dense forest floor material, potentially improving its reproductive success in its natural habitat.
• The discovery highlights the vast underexplored diversity of fungi, with millions of species yet to be described, and underscores the importance of fungi in ecosystems and the carbon cycle.