Book 24, Question 65
How big can a single fungus grow?
One of the largest living things is a honey fungus in an Oregon forest. Its threads spread under the soil across about 2,400 acres, about as big as 1,800 football fields, and it has been growing for thousands of years. You can only see the mushrooms in the fall. Most of its body stays hidden below.
More fun facts
- One of the biggest living things on Earth is a honey fungus in Oregon.
- It spreads underground across about four square miles of the Blue Mountains.
- Scientists think it may be between 1,900 and 8,650 years old.
- It sprouts yellow-brown mushrooms above ground.
- The fungus attacks trees and can kill many of them.
- In gardens, honey fungus is a pest that can kill plants and trees.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Where exactly does this giant fungus live?
It lives in Malheur National Forest in Oregon's Blue Mountains.