Chinese Scientists Find Giant Fungus of New Family

The new mushroom belongs to the class of ascomycetes (sac fungi) — such mushrooms do not have a cap.

Consensus

The giant fungus was discovered in the forests of Yunnan Province, China.
The fungus belongs to the group of ascomycetes (cup fungi), which typically have small sizes.
The fungus is the largest known ascomycete in history.
It was identified as a new species, Dianjunus rex, and placed in a new family, Dianjunaceae.
The fungus was found growing on the roots of Chinese cork oak trees.
DNA analysis confirmed it does not belong to any known species.
The discovery was published in the journal Frontiers in Fungal Biology.
The estimated age of the family is around 65 million years.
The fungus is believed to have evolved after the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
The fungus likely plays a role in decomposing wood after tree death.

The fungus has a unique life cycle involving an endophytic-saprotrophic transition: it lives harmlessly inside healthy trees before decomposing dead wood. — vm
The discovery was made by researchers from China, Italy, and Slovakia, who also found a four-winged dinosaur in late September. — vm
The fungus was found in multiple areas of Yunnan Province. — riam
The fungus's large fruiting body may help disperse spores by elevating them above the forest floor. — riam
The authors suggest that the fungus may produce enzymes that help break down complex plant materials. — riam
The fungus is the only known representative of its family. — vm