Prototaxites 419 million years ago, during the late Silurian and Devonian periods, the earth was covered by massive filamentous fungi called Prototaxites. There were no trees yet at that time. These Prototaxites were mysterious organisms, although the current opinion holds them to be giant mushrooms, that grew up to 8 meters (26 feet) high and were 1 meter (3.25 feet) wide. Their fossils were remarkably treelike and only distinguishable under a microscope. They were found to have been bored by a