Earth’s Biggest Organism: Size isn’t always visible. The largest living thing on Earth isn’t a giant animal or towering plant; it’s a hidden fungus sprawling beneath the soil of an American forest. Keep reading to know more about the Armillaria ostoyae, also called “humongous fungus.”
Read More: Which Is the Largest Organ of the Human Body?
What Is the Largest Living Organism on Earth?
The largest known specimen of Armillaria ostoyae spans roughly 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometres) in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. That’s larger than 1,600 football fields. It’s estimated to weigh over 400 tonnes, making it not just the largest by area but possibly the largest by mass as well.
How Old Is the Largest Living Organism
Scientists believe this giant fungal network could be 2,000 to 8,500 years old, based on its growth rate and size. That means it’s older than most civilisations and has silently expanded for millennia beneath the forest floor.
How Does It Grow
This fungus spreads underground by extending rhizomorphs, root-like structures that seek out and infect tree roots. Once it finds a host, it feeds on the wood, breaking it down and absorbing nutrients. Over time, these connections form a single, genetically identical organism.
Why Is It Considered One Organism
Although it covers such a vast area, DNA testing has confirmed that the entire underground structure is genetically identical, which qualifies it as one organism. Every part of it communicates, shares nutrients, and grows in a coordinated way.
Is It Harmful
Yes, the honey fungus is a parasite. It causes root rot in trees, killing them over time. In forests where trees are already stressed by drought, pests, or poor soil the fungus can quickly spread, leading to large-scale die-offs.
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