✗ The myth everyone repeats
The largest organism on Earth is a whale or a giant sequoia tree.
✓ What is actually true
The largest known organism is actually a fungus: an Armillaria ostoyae specimen in Oregon's Malheur National Forest that spans over 2,384 acres and weighs about 6,000 tons. It's estimated to be 2,400-8,650 years old. This discovery challenged the previous understanding of what constitutes a single organism and changed our perspective on fungal biology.
Reception
The receipts 2 sources
- Nature: The Largest FungusPRIMARY
- USDA Forest Service: Armillaria ostoyaeREFERENCE