Humongous Fungus - Armillaria solidipes

This species is known to be one of the largest living organisms! Scientists have estimated a single specimen that was found in Oregon to be 2,400 years old, covering 3.4 square miles (2,200 acres; 8.8 km2)! So, it has been nicknamed the "Humongous Fungus". The fungus grows and spreads primarily underground. Hence, the organism is invisible above ground. In the autumn, it fruits mushrooms.

Habitat: Growing at the base of a tree (oak, I think) in a mixed forest.

comments (11)

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Whoahhhh! <3 Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Isn't it pretty :) Posted 6 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Oh wow, I've read about such large fungi organisms, how cool that you found the actual species! Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Underground fungal networks are amazing! Posted 6 years ago

morpheme

Lion

I was just reading that this species name has been changed (back to an older name, I believe) and is now A. solidipes. Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Lol, really? Thanks for letting me know! I'll check it out and change the name :)
  
  Mushroom taxonomy is sooo insane!! Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    I checked, and you are totally correct. So, I updated the name in my descriptions, but....I could not update the species name in the record and when I delete the ID and try to identify it as "Armillaria solidipes", it kicks it back to Armillaria solidipes. So, blargh. I will ask Ferdy to intervene! Thanks again morpheme :) Posted 6 years ago
  2. 1. morpheme
      
      Lion
      
      Can you imagine... someday, probably not that far off, it'll be so cheap and easy to genotype that everything will be done. The mushroom world will go upside down. Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        So true! Posted 6 years ago
      2. morpheme
        
        Lion
        
        I was talking with the doctor I work for today - we both think that with the pace of development and the demand for the knowledge, that within our lifetime there will probably be a handheld gizmo that does genetic sequencing on demand - StarTrek here we come :} Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Wow, won't that be amazing!? Although, I always enjoyed running gels and using the traditional methods. I will always be a sucker for "old school". Posted 6 years ago

The Armillaria solidipes

''Armillaria solidipes'' is a species of plant pathogenic fungus in the Physalacriaceae family. It is the most common variant in the western U.S., of the group of species that all used to share the name ''Armillaria mellea''. ''Armillaria ostoyae'' is quite common on both hardwood and conifer wood in forests west of the Cascade crest.

Info 11 0

Similar species: Agaricales

Species identified by Christine Young