Sarah Brown
Oregon is home to the largest single living organism on Earth, nicknamed the Humongous Fungus. This giant mushroom, scientifically known as Armillaria ostoyae, is located in the Blue Mountains within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon. Covering an area of 3.5 square miles (2,200 acres or 9.1 km^2^) and weighing up to an estimated 35,000 tons, it is a parasitic fungus that spreads through the root structures of coniferous trees, sucking the life out of them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Armillaria ostoyae, Honey Mushroom, Shoestring Fungus |
| Common Name | Humongous Fungus |
| Location | Malheur National Forest, Strawberry Mountains, Blue Mountains, Eastern Oregon |
| Weight | 7,500-35,000 tons |
| Area Covered | 3.5 square miles, 2,200 acres, 9.1 km square |
| Acreage | 2,240 acres |
| Year Discovered | 1911 |
| Discoverer | Mycologist William Murrill |
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What You'll Learn
Oregon's Honey Mushroom
The Honey Mushroom is a parasitic fungus that spreads its filaments through the root structures of coniferous trees, slowly draining them of life. The expanse of the forest and the stable environment have allowed the fungus to expand unchecked. As of 2015, it encompassed 3.5 square miles of forest, and it has likely continued to grow since then. The fungus takes on a white, slime-like form as it spreads underground, only producing the familiar mushroom cap shape during the fall months.
The Honey Mushroom gets its name from the golden caps that appear during the autumn season. These mushrooms are the surface fruits of the subterranean organism. They typically grow in clumps out of the base of infested trees and are characterized by their brown caps, stalks, and gills. While they are considered edible, improper preparation can lead to stomach distress.
The enormous size of Oregon's Honey Mushroom has sparked curiosity and research into the genetics underlying its growth. Scientists have discovered that the fungus spreads through long black filaments called rhizomorphs, which grow underground and infest trees. Recent DNA research has helped pinpoint the genes responsible for these unique rhizomorphs, providing insight into how this fungus achieves its incredible size.
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Armillaria ostoyae
The Humongous Fungus, a specimen of Armillaria ostoyae, was discovered in Oregon's Malheur National Forest in the Strawberry Mountains of eastern Oregon. It is believed to be the largest single living organism on Earth by biomass. The fungus covers 2,384 acres (about 3.5 square miles or 9.1 km2), and its total mass is estimated to weigh at least 7,500 tons and maybe up to 35,000 tons, which is more than twenty times the weight of a blue whale.
The Armillaria ostoyae fungus looks like a white slime on and within the bark of Ponderosa Pine trees and sends out black tendrils underground, only taking on the more familiar mushroom cap shape in the fall months. It grows wide and thin gills that radiate decurrently from the stem, leaving a white spore print. Once spore formation is complete, the mature mushroom can spread its spores to start a new generation.
The Humongous Fungus was not the first discovery of Armillaria ostoyae in Oregon. In 1992, a specimen of Armillaria ostoyae was discovered in southwestern Washington, covering about 1,500 acres (2.5 square miles). Armillaria ostoyae is mostly common in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, including the forests of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. It also grows in parts of Asia.
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The world's largest living organism
Oregon is home to the world's largest living organism, the "Humongous Fungus", or Armillaria ostoyae, its scientific name. Located in the Blue Mountains within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon, this enormous organism is a type of mushroom, more commonly known as the Honey Mushroom or Shoestring Fungus.
The Honey Mushroom derives its name from the amber-coloured fruit that it bears in the fall. It is a parasitic fungus, killing and feeding on trees. It spreads its filaments through the root structure of the coniferous forest, inserting itself into the body of the tree. It takes years for the tree to die while the fungus slowly feeds on it. The stable environment and expanse of the forest have allowed the Humongous Fungus to spread over a large area.
The total mass of the organism is estimated to be at least 7,500 tons, and maybe up to 35,000 tons. It covers 3.5 square miles of forest, or 2,200 acres, and is still growing. This is more than 38% of the estimated land area of the Michigan A. ostoyae, which covers 910 hectares. The largest concentration of Armillaria encompassed 3.5 square miles of forest as of 2015 and has likely grown even larger since then.
DNA testing has confirmed that the Humongous Fungus is indeed the largest single living organism in the world. It is both the largest and the oldest living thing on Earth. The fungus looks like a white slime on and within the bark of Ponderosa Pine trees and sends out black tendrils underground, only taking on the familiar mushroom cap shape in the fall months.
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Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains in Oregon are home to what is possibly the largest, oldest, and heaviest living organism on Earth: a giant mushroom called the Humongous Fungus. Scientifically known as Armillaria ostoyae, it is also commonly referred to as the Honey Mushroom or Shoestring Fungus. This enormous organism is located within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon.
The Humongous Fungus is a parasitic species that kills trees. It reproduces sexually, beginning life as spores released into the environment by a mature mushroom. The fungus spreads its filaments through the root structure of the coniferous forest, inserting itself into the body of the tree. It takes years for the tree to die while the fungus feeds on its life force. The stable environment and expanse of the forest have allowed the Humongous Fungus to spread extensively.
As of 2015, the largest concentration of Armillaria encompassed 3.5 square miles of forest, which has likely increased significantly in the years since. The total mass of the fungus is estimated to be at least 7,500 tons and may be as high as 35,000 tons. This makes it significantly heavier than the blue whale, weighing more than twenty times that of the massive marine mammal.
The Honey Mushroom derives its name from the amber-coloured fruit that appears in the fall. During this season, the subterranean parts of the organism bloom, producing mushroom caps. However, for most of the year, the fungus appears as white slime on and within the bark of Ponderosa Pine trees, sending out black tendrils underground. This unique growth pattern has intrigued scientists, leading to further investigation.
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Malheur National Forest
Oregon's Malheur National Forest is home to the world's largest single living organism by biomass, Armillaria ostoyae, also known as the "Humongous Fungus". Covering 2,385 acres (3.7 square miles) and weighing between 7,500 and 35,000 tons, the fungus is located in the Reynolds Creek and Clear Creek areas of the forest, about eleven miles east of Prairie City.
The Honey Mushroom, as it is more commonly known, appears as white slime on the bark of Ponderosa Pine trees and sends out black tendrils underground, only taking on the familiar mushroom cap shape in autumn. As a parasite, Armillaria ostoyae spreads its filaments through the root structure of the coniferous forest, infesting trees and feeding on them until they die.
The Malheur National Forest was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 and is named after the Malheur River, derived from the French word for "misfortune". Covering 1.4 million acres in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, the forest consists of high desert grasslands, sage, juniper, pine, fir, and other tree species. Elevations range from 4,000 feet to the 9,038-foot peak of Strawberry Mountain. The forest is managed by the United States Forest Service for timber extraction, cattle grazing, gold mining, and wilderness use.
The Malheur National Forest is also home to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1908 to protect migratory waterfowl and colonial nesting species. The refuge is located in southeastern Oregon's high desert and is known for its abundant wildlife and natural resources, attracting visitors with its recreational opportunities. The refuge encompasses over 187,000 acres and is open to the public, offering a variety of maps and online mapping tools for exploration.
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Frequently asked questions
Oregon's largest mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae, nicknamed the Humongous Fungus, is located in the Blue Mountains within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon.
Oregon's largest mushroom covers 3.5 square miles (2,200 acres or 9.1 km^2) and weighs as much as 35,000 tons. It is believed to be the largest single living organism on Earth by biomass.
The fungus looks like a white slime on and within the bark of Ponderosa Pine trees and sends out black tendrils underground. It only takes on the familiar mushroom cap shape in the fall months, when honey mushroom caps emerge.
Yes, Armillaria is a parasite that kills trees. It spreads its filaments through the root structure of the coniferous forest and inserts itself into the body of the tree. It will take years for the tree to die while the fungus feeds on it.
