12-million-year-old fossil leaf from the Himalaya reveals a previously unknown fungal species

Researchers have made a significant find with the identification of Vizellopsidites miocenicus, a previously unknown fungal species, preserved in fossilized leaves from Himachal Pradesh. Dating back to the Late Miocene epoch, about 12 to 8 million years ago, this ectoparasite reveals crucial insights into ancient ecological interactions within tropical Siwalik forests, highlighting the intricate relationships between flora and fungi in prehistoric environments.