Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 1 d ago, last 57 min ago, peak #1

Oregon's giant honey mushroom is Earth's largest living organism

Original: The largest living organism on Earth is not a whale or a redwood — it is a fungus. A single Armillaria ostoyae (honey mu

The largest living organism on Earth is a fungus: a single Armillaria ostoyae, or honey mushroom, in Oregon's Blue Mountains. Spreading roughly 3.5 square miles underground, it is one genetic individual, and scientists estimate it is around 2,400 years old. Readers are sharing the fact as a surprising counterpoint to the usual answers of whales or redwood trees.

Why now: The striking fact that a fungus outweighs and outspans famous giants like whales and redwoods is capturing attention.

Armillaria ostoyaeBlue MountainsOregon

Open on mastodon →

Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 22 snapshots from 1 d ago to 57 min ago.

Evidence

• The largest living organism on Earth is not a whale or a redwood — it is a fungus. A single Armillaria ostoyae (honey mushroom) in Oregon's Blue Mountains spans about 3.5 square miles underground, all one genetic individual. Scientists estimate it is around 2,400 years old. The… · eatrics · 11

API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/1806912