Scientists have discovered a giant fungus in southwestern China that can grow up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) tall and weigh nearly 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms). The unusual species, named Dianjunus rex, is so different from known fungi that researchers have proposed an entirely new family to classify it.
The discovery, made in Yunnan province, was detailed in a study published Sept. 29 in the journal Frontiers in Fungal Biology. Genetic evidence suggests the fungus belongs to a lineage that emerged around 65 million years ago, near the time dinosaurs became extinct.
Giant fungus discovered in China’s forests
Researchers at the Kunming Institute of Botany collected specimens from three locations in Yunnan between August 2024 and July 2025. The fungi grew near the roots of dying or decaying trees in both cooler forests and tropical rainforests. The species belongs to the ascomycetes, a large group of fungi that includes truffles, which have been valued since ancient times.
Unlike familiar cap-and-stem mushrooms, Dianjunus rex produces a tall, fleshy structure that releases spores through tiny openings. Its surface changes from white to yellow as it matures. The reported height of 20 inches includes a buried stalk. The visible, spore-producing section typically measures just 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters).
DNA reveals an ancient evolutionary lineage
Scientists compared the fungus’s DNA with that of approximately 200 related species and sequenced the complete genomes of three specimens. Their findings supported the creation of Dianjunaceae, a new family within the fungal order Xylariales. The discovery adds to growing research into unusual ancient organisms and their evolutionary relationships.
Scientists have discovered a giant fungus in China that can grow up to 20 inches tall and belongs to an evolutionary lineage dating back around 65 million years, near the time dinosaurs went extinct. pic.twitter.com/k0lfiapNAH
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 14, 2026
Using a genetic dating technique called a molecular clock, researchers estimated that the family emerged approximately 65 million years ago. However, the possible date ranges from 50 million to 80 million years ago. The team suggested that environmental changes following the mass extinction that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs may have created opportunities for fungi that feed on dead wood. The connection remains unproven.
Unusual genetic findings raise new questions
Genetic analysis revealed that Dianjunus rex has fewer plant-degrading enzymes than the other fungi examined in the study. Researchers suspect the fungus may live inside healthy tree roots before switching to decaying wood when trees die. However, its feeding behavior remains unknown.
Scientists also suggest that its unusual height could help spores travel farther through dense forest vegetation. The discovery highlights the largely unexplored fungal diversity of Yunnan, where researchers estimate that only a small fraction of species have been formally described.
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