Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 1 d ago, last 48 min ago, peak #1

Oregon's giant fungus 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

Scientists say the largest living organism on Earth is not a whale or a redwood, but a fungus. A single Armillaria ostoyae, or honey mushroom, in Oregon's Blue Mountains spans roughly 3.5 square miles underground and is genetically one individual. Researchers estimate it is around 2,400 years old.

Why now: The surprising fact that a fungus outweighs and outspans more famous giants is being widely shared and discussed.

Armillaria ostoyaeBlue MountainsOregon

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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

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