Scientists from China, Thailand and Mexico have identified an unusually large fungus in the forests of Yunnan, south-west China. Named Dianjunus rex, it grows on the woody roots of Chinese cork oak and breaks down wood. Its whitish fruiting bodies, the structures that produce spores, stand upright and can reach 20 inches in height and weigh up to 5 pounds.
The researchers studied its shape, grew its spores and examined its DNA. Their findings placed it in both a new genus, a group of related species, and a new family. By comparing its DNA with that of other fungi, they estimated that the family appeared around 65 million years ago. This was roughly one million years after the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs. Dead plant material may have created new opportunities for fungi that break down wood.
The fungus's height could help wind carry its spores above nearby plants and forest debris. However, such large structures require considerable energy. Researchers also expect further fungal discoveries in the region's varied forests.
