Behold the oldest mushroom in the world! Discovered in Burma by retired Corvis entomology professor, George Poinar, and Kentucky nurse, Ron Buckley, the pinwheel-like mushrooms were found entombed in a 100-million year old amber fossil. The mushroom is deemed to be about 20 million years old.

The amber was seen last year by Buckley, an amber-fossil collector, and immediately sent his find to Poinar. Upon examination, it was found that apart from the mushroom, there were two ancient parasites along with it. One of the parasites was feeding on the mushroom, while the other was feeding on the parasite eating the 'shroom. Says Poinar, "I was amazed enough with the mushroom. But then seeing the parasites was astonishing. No one has ever seen this three-tier association before."

What makes this find significant is that it can shed a whole new light to the kind of fungal diversity that abound at that time. Apart from that, scientists may then be able to find out more about the fungi's role in forest ecosystems.

Poinar is well-known for his discovery of another "oldest" last year, a 100-year-old bee, also found in Burma, and also entombed in amber.