Sarah Brown
The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, is a species of fungus that can be found in Oregon's Blue Mountains. It is the largest single living organism on Earth, covering an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometres. The honey mushroom is a pathogenic species of fungus that spreads underground through tree roots, killing trees in its path. It is estimated to be between 2,400 and 8,600 years old, and it may weigh as much as 35,000 tons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Honey Mushroom |
| Scientific Name | Armillaria |
| Genus | Armillaria |
| Species | Armillaria ostoyae (synonym A. solidipes) |
| Common Nicknames | Honey Mushroom, Shoestring Fungus |
| Location | Malheur National Forest, Strawberry Mountains, Cascade Mountains, Blue Mountains, Eastern Oregon |
| Age | 2,400-8,600 years |
| Weight | 27,000 metric tons |
| Area Covered | 3.5-3.7 square miles, 9-10 km2, 2,200-2,384 acres |
| Comparison | Five times the size of Monaco |
| Status | Largest Single Living Organism On Earth |
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What You'll Learn
The honey mushroom is the largest fungal colony in the world
The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, is the largest fungal colony in the world. This single fungal organism, found in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, covers an area of 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometres) or 2,200 acres. It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 8,000 years old and may weigh as much as 35,000 tons.
The honey mushroom derives its name from the yellow-capped and sweet fruiting bodies that it produces. It is also sometimes called the "shoestring fungus" due to the black fibres it sends out underground as it spreads from tree root to tree root. This subterranean monster fungus is a pathogenic species that invades the sapwood of trees, causing the death of many trees in its path.
The honey mushroom was discovered in 1998 and is believed to be the largest known individual fungus in the world. It is not, however, the first known "humongous fungus". That title goes to another fungal colony discovered in 1992 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This colony, of the Armillaria gallica variety, covered 37 acres and weighed 100 metric tons.
The Oregon honey mushroom is nearly five times the size of the Michigan colony and is comparable in size to Posidonia australis on the Australian seabed, which measures 200 square kilometres. The honey mushroom is also estimated to be much older than the Michigan colony, which is believed to be around 1,500 to 2,500 years old.
The enormous size of the Oregon honey mushroom has sparked a debate about what constitutes an individual organism. Scientists have determined that the honey mushroom is a single organism due to its genetically identical cells that are in communication with one another and work towards a common purpose.
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It is also the largest single living organism on Earth
The honey mushroom, scientifically known as Armillaria ostoyae, is the largest single living organism on Earth. This humongous fungus was discovered in 1998 in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon's Blue Mountains. It covers an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometres, or 2,384 acres of soil. That's about five times the size of Monaco, the world's second-smallest country, and enough to encompass 1,665 football fields.
The honey mushroom is a pathogenic species of fungus in the family Physalacriaceae. It has decurrent gills, and the stipe has a ring. The mycelium invades the sapwood of trees and spreads through black rhizomorphs ("shoestrings"), which grow under the soil to infest trees that the fungus feeds on. It grows and spreads primarily underground, so it is almost completely hidden from view for most of the year. It only becomes visible when it reproduces and the honey mushrooms fruit in the fall.
The honey mushroom derives its name from the yellow-capped and sweet fruiting bodies that emerge in the fall. These mushrooms are considered edible but can cause stomach distress for some and need to be well-cooked. They are the surface fruits of the subterranean organism.
The honey mushroom in Oregon is believed to be between 2,400 and 8,600 years old, with some estimates placing it at 8,650 or even 10,000 years old. It is so large that it can be mapped, and its weight is estimated to be as high as 35,000 tons, or even 27,000 metric tons.
The discovery of this giant fungus in Oregon sparked a debate about what constitutes an individual organism. It also highlighted the potential for other massive fungi to exist, as honey mushrooms are not the only variety with a penchant for monstrosity.
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It is located in the Blue Mountains of Oregon
The honey mushroom (Armillaria ostoyae) is located in the Blue Mountains of Oregon, where it is slowly consuming thousands of trees. It is the largest single living organism on Earth, covering an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometres. It is estimated to be between 2,400 and 8,600 years old, and it may weigh as much as 35,000 tons.
The honey mushroom derives its name from the yellow-capped and sweet fruiting bodies that it produces. It is also known as the "shoestring fungus" due to its ability to take the form of black fibres as it spreads underground from tree root to tree root. The honey mushroom is a pathogenic species of fungus, meaning it can infect and kill trees. It grows under the bark of trees and can spread at a rate of one to three feet per year.
The honey mushroom was discovered in 1998 by Catherine Parks of the USFS in Oregon and her colleagues. Its enormous size rekindled the debate about what constitutes an individual organism. The honey mushroom is believed to have survived in the same spot for nearly 10,000 years by digesting living tree roots. This makes it good news for the fungus but bad news for the trees.
The honey mushroom is not alone in its location. It is surrounded by four other giant fungi that belong to the same species but are genetically unique entities, or "genets". These giant fungi are also part of the Armillaria genus, which is known for producing honey mushrooms. However, the Oregon honey mushroom is the largest of its kind, with the Michigan Armillaria gallica covering only 37 acres in comparison.
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It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 8,000 years old
The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, is a species of fungus that can be found in Oregon's Blue Mountains. It is the largest single living organism on Earth, spanning an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometres. It is also one of the oldest known organisms, estimated to be between 2,000 and 8,000 years old.
The honey mushroom derives its name from the yellow-capped and sweet fruiting bodies it produces. It is also sometimes called the "shoestring fungus" due to its ability to take the form of black fibres or "shoestrings" as it spreads underground from tree root to tree root. This unique ability allows the fungus to grow to huge proportions, covering more total geographical area than any other single living organism.
The honey mushroom is a pathogenic species of fungus, meaning it can cause disease in its host trees. It invades the sapwood of trees and spreads under the bark, making it difficult to detect. It is only visible above ground for a few weeks in the fall when it fruits and produces the honey mushrooms. The rest of the time, it remains hidden underground, slowly consuming the trees in its path.
The enormous size and longevity of the honey mushroom can be attributed to its ability to survive by digesting living tree roots. It has wiped out many trees in its path, but the Pacific Northwest's abundant forests have allowed it to thrive and survive for thousands of years. Its age has been calculated based on its growth rate of one to three feet per year.
The discovery of the honey mushroom in Oregon sparked a worldwide search for other instances of humongous fungi, leading to the identification of additional large fungal colonies in Michigan and other parts of the world. These findings have contributed to a better understanding of the genetics and unique characteristics of these enormous organisms.
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It may weigh as much as 35,000 tons
The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, is a species of fungus that can be found in Oregon's Blue Mountains. It is the largest single living organism on Earth, covering an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometres. The honey mushroom derives its name from the amber-coloured fruit that emerges in the fall. It is also known as the "shoestring fungus" due to its ability to spread through the forest by sending out black fibres underground.
The honey mushroom in Oregon is estimated to be between 2,400 and 8,600 years old, with some estimates placing it at up to 10,000 years old. It is believed to have survived in the same spot for so long by digesting living tree roots. This has resulted in the fungus wiping out many trees in its path. The honey mushroom is a pathogenic species, meaning it can infect and kill certain types of trees. It grows under the bark of trees and spreads through the interconnected root systems, making it difficult to eradicate.
The enormous size of the honey mushroom in Oregon is due to its ability to spread underground and infect trees over a large area. It is estimated to cover an area of 2,200 to 2,384 acres, which is roughly five times the size of Monaco. The weight of this subterranean monster fungus is estimated to be as high as 35,000 tons, which is equivalent to the weight of 3 blue whales. This estimate is based on comparisons with another massive fungus found in Michigan, which weighed 440 tons and covered only 38% of the land area of the Oregon honey mushroom.
The honey mushroom in Oregon is not the first to be dubbed the "humongous fungus". That title goes to another Armillaria gallica found in Michigan, which covered 37 acres and weighed 100 metric tons. However, the Oregon honey mushroom is significantly larger and heavier, earning its place as the largest known individual fungus in the world. The Michigan honey mushroom, while impressive, only covers a fraction of the area and weight of its Oregon counterpart.
The honey mushroom in Oregon is a fascinating example of the immense size and longevity that fungi can achieve. Its ability to survive by digesting tree roots has allowed it to thrive for thousands of years, slowly consuming thousands of trees in its path. The weight of this fungus, estimated to be as high as 35,000 tons, is a testament to its immense size and impact on the environment. While it may be difficult to fully comprehend the sheer magnitude of this organism, it is clear that the honey mushroom in Oregon is a true monster fungus.
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Frequently asked questions
The honey mushroom, or Armillaria ostoyae, covers an area of 3.5 square miles or 9 square kilometers in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. It is the largest single living organism on Earth.
The honey mushroom in Oregon is estimated to be between 2,000 and 8,000 years old. Some estimates put it at 8,600 or even 10,000 years old.
The honey mushroom has a prominent cap with scales that are cream to brown in color. The stalks are 2 to 4 inches tall, and the caps are 2 to 5 inches across. The gills leave a white spore print, and the stem retains a well-developed ring.
