How big are fungi?

The Humungous fungus

Did you know that the fine threads (mycelium) of  Armillaria ostoyae stretch for over 5.5 miles? This fungus is found in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, in the United States of America.   Although its mycelium stretches for miles the fruit bodies that it produces are the size of a normal field mushroom. 

The fungus is thought to be about 2,400 years old! A truly humungous fungus!

The largest edible fruit body

Some fungal fruit bodies are very large such as that of the termite fungus, Termitomyces titanicus, whose cap can be as large as 1 metre in diameter.  This is arguably the largest edible fungus on the planet - try finding it in the Guinness Book of World Records!

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