The world always defines unbelievable things. Just like the largest living thing, the Armillaria Ostoyae or Humongous Fungus that beats the blue whale's record.
Business Insider reported that blue whale is still the largest animal living on Earth, but its record as the world's largest living thing was already replaced by a species of fungus. Armillaria Ostayae or commonly referred as the Humongous Fungus has taken over the record. The fungus covers an almost four square miles of land at exactly 2,385 acres at the Malheur National Forest in Oregon.
Meanwhile, because it expands on a wide area it brings both positive and negative effects to people and environment. And even though the Armillaria is now considered as the world's largest living thing, its existence is still considered harmful.
One of the known benefits of the armillaria is testified by Italian chef Antonio Carluccio, BBC reported. Carluccio said that armillaria made spaghetti and red chili really delicious, that's why its wide scope is an advantage. On the other hand, gardeners and farmers considered the world's largest living thing as parasitic for it threatens roses, hedges, and rhododendrons.
The world's largest living thing, Armillaria directly feeds on tree roots. The fungus existence on tree roots leech it off and at the end decay and kill a tree. This is the most seen reason why Armillaria grows rapidly in an abundant forest with thousands of trees.
The armillaria has wide roots, the mycelia which are responsible for permeating blow the ground. It's only the mushroom that grows on top of the ground once a year that becomes visible after killing or infecting a tree.
The world's largest living thing, Armillaria was discovered in 1998 by a team of US Forest Service. The team collected root samples from 112 dead and near end trees that are mostly firs and the tests showed 96 percent of the trees' death was due to the fungus.
