What is probably the largest living organism on earth has been discovered in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. A fungus living three feet underground is estimated to cover 2,200 acres. After testing samples from various locations, scientists say it is all one organism.
One Thousand Football Fields
Officially known as Armillaria ostoyae, or the honey mushroom, the fungus is 3.5 miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields. The small mushrooms visible above ground are only the tip of the iceberg.
Experts estimate that the giant mushroom is at least 2,400 years old, but could be 7,200 years old.
Previously, the world's largest organism was another Armillaria ostoyae, which covers a mere 1,500 acres near Mt. Adams in Washington state.
A Web of Tentacles
Scientists became interested in that section of forest when trees began to die. The honey mushroom uses tentacles, called rhizomorphs, to take water and nutrients from roots, killing trees.
The process benefits the ecosystem by creating clearings where new plants grow. Animals, such as woodpeckers, live in the dead tree trunks. Mushrooms also recycle nutrients.
Dry Climate Helps
The dry climate of eastern Oregon discourages competition from new growth, leaving space for mushrooms already established.
Genetically Closer to People
In other research, scientists have determined that fungi are more closely related to human beings and animals than to other plants.
Moreover, while humans and most species are divided into only two sexes, mushrooms contain over 36,000 sexes.
Thanks for posting that. I knew that this grass was nowhere near that fungus as far as size.
A Fungi to be with!!!
LOL>>>> I Kill Me!!!
Isn't it also true that aspen groves constitute one organism, as they all have one interconnected root system? Some of them are very large as well.
Whoa. Lotta possibilities there. The mind boggles. Personally I have enough trouble just keeping the two human species straight, things being the way they are these days.
That sounds like significantly altered definitions of "sexes".
This reminds me of the "X-Files" episode about a giant underground fungus in the Appalachians of North Carolina. Hikers were mysteriously disappearing and it turned out that the fungus secreted a psychotropic gas or spores which caused debilitating, paralyzing hallucinations and allowed the fungus to "digest" them.
Genetically closer to people...
I always knew Clinton was scum! Now there's proof!
“....... mushrooms contain over 36,000 sexes.”
Oh great, I jut had chanterelles in my omelet. I will fret all week wondering what sex it was.