The underground growth can stretch up to several square kilometers.
Another specimen, also named the Humongous Fungus, resides in a forest in Michigans Upper Peninsula.
That one is spread over 37 acres.
The honey mushroom is the above-ground part of a vast subterranean fungus.
This one was spread over a phenomenal area2,200 acres.
The fungus was not only large but also very old with date ranging from 2,400 years to 8,500 years.
Scientists are still not sure of all the factors that allow these funguses to become so large and old.
The rhizomorph attach themselves to the roots of living and sometimes dead plants and sap nutrients out of them.
These rhizomorphs give theArmillariaenough competitive advantage over other fungi species.
Over the course of several centuries the fungus can expand over vast areas.
They can be found in forests around the world in North America, Europe, and Asia.
So its very possible that even more humongous funguses will be discovered in the future.
Rhizomorphs of theArmillariafungus propagating up into the wood of a tree.
When fresh these rhizomorphs are cream colored but darken to brown or black as they age.
Photo credit:Paul Derbyshire/Wikimedia
Sources:Wikipedia/Wikipedia/Wikipedia/Smells Like Science/USDA
