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The World’s Largest Organism Is a 35,000-Ton Fungus – At Least, For Now

What is the largest organism? Until a few years ago, Oregon’s “humongous fungus” was considered the world’s largest organism. Now, some experts aren’t so sure.

ByMadison Dapcevich
Largest organism, the Armillaria ostoyae (Image Credit: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock) Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

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The largest organism is the Armillaria ostoyae, also known as the “humongous fungus.”

The fungus covers 2,385 acres and is 8,650 years old, weighing 35,000 tons.

Experts suggest that other organisms like the Antarctic blue whale, the 106-acre aspen forest, or two closely related hybridized eelgrass species could compete for the world’s largest organism.

Quarter-sized white button mushrooms, which are typically found on pizza slices and in grocery produce aisles, are close relatives of what some consider the world’s largest organism. Their cousin? A single, massive organism, Armillaria ostoyae, is located in Oregon's Malheur National Forest.

Also known as the “humongous fungus,” many experts consider this vast honey mushroom network the world’s largest organism.

Antonis Rokas, a professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, says current estimates of the humongous fungus suggest it covers 2,385 acres, or nearly three times the size of Central Park. At some 8,650 years old, ...

  • Madison Dapcevich

    Madison’s reporting focuses on marine and environmental issues, climate change, and novel scientific discoveries related to health and technology. Raised on an island in southeast Alaska, Madison is now based in western Montana. Her writing has been featured in Time, Snopes, Business Insider, Mountain Journal, EcoWatch, and Alaska Magazine, among others. When not writing, Madison teaches yoga, raises chickens, and fosters adoptable dogs and cats.

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