# Chinese scientists find 65-million-year-old fungus D-rex

> Chinese scientists discovered a giant fungus with roots stretching back 65 million years.
- Title: Chinese scientists find 65-million-year-old fungus D-rex
- Summary: Chinese scientists discovered a giant fungus with roots stretching back 65 million years.
- Keywords: dianjunus rex, d-rex, yunnan, kunming institute of botany, chinese academy of sciences, ascomycota, xylariales, dianjunaceae, cretaceous-paleogene extinction, fungal diversity, evolutionary biology, molecular clock
- Source: ScienceDaily — https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261025073034.htm
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dianjunus rex, d-rex, yunnan, kunming institute of botany, chinese academy of sciences, ascomycota, xylariales, dianjunaceae, cretaceous-paleogene extinction, fungal diversity, evolutionary biology, molecular clock
## New giant fungus discovered
Chinese scientists found a giant fungus in Yunnan forests that grows up to 20 inches tall and weighs nearly five pounds.
## D-rex: a new fungal family
The fungus belongs to a new family, Dianjunaceae, and is the largest known fruiting body in the Ascomycota phylum.
## Evolutionary timeline
D-rex's lineage dates back 65 million years, emerging shortly after the dinosaur extinction event.
## Genetic analysis reveals new family
Scientists created a new genus and family, Dianjunaceae, for D-rex after genetic analysis showed it was distinct from known fungi.
## D-rex's nickname and origin
The fungus was named Dianjunus rex, inspired by its size and the ancient Dian kingdom.
## Closest known relative
D-rex's closest relative is Graphostroma platystoma, a fungus that grows on dead hardwood in the Northern Hemisphere.
## Why D-rex grows so large
D-rex's tall structure may improve spore dispersal in dense forests, but requires significant energy.
## 65-million-year connection
The fungus's lineage originated approximately 65 million years ago, one million years after the dinosaur extinction.
## D-rex's ecological role
D-rex may decompose dead wood using enzymes that break down complex plant molecules.
## China's fungal diversity
China's subtropical forests may harbor many undiscovered fungi due to diverse habitats and stable climates.
## Why fungi remain hidden
Fungal reproductive structures are seasonal and often hidden, making them difficult to study in remote areas.
## Future discoveries
Scientists expect more fungal species to be found in China's forests as research continues.
## Key takeaway

Chinese scientists found a giant fungus Dianjunus rex that grows up to 20 inches tall and weighs nearly five pounds, with evolutionary roots dating back 65 million years after the dinosaur extinction.