Malheur National Forest, OR

Known locally as the "Humongous Fungus” the massive networked fungus growing beneath Malheur National Forest may be the largest and oldest life form still active on the planet.

This particular specimen of Armillaria ostoyae fungus is not only the world’s biggest organism by area at 2,200 acres, but it is also one of its oldest having been around for at least 2,400 years. Commonly known as the “Honey Mushroom,” the fungus is not easy to spot as it is largely underground and attacks beneath the bark of trees. When conditions are right during a wet period in the fall, the honey mushroom makes an appearance by sprouting from the trees it is infesting. Unfortunately, my visit was not timed to see this, leaving me with views of the collateral damage: fallen trees everywhere. Further, there had been a fire in this area in recent years, making the fire appear to be the culprit of all the damage, but trees were being destroyed long before the fire.

The mushroom’s sweet name belies the fact that it is a parasite, feasting on the roots of the conifers growing above it and killing them in vast swaths. In fact, the only way that scientists have been able to estimate the plant’s true size is by studying the death of the above-ground trees. Another of the fungus’ unique features is its natural bioluminescence which has lit up the night for centuries and is likely the truth behind stories of “foxfire” and “fairy lights” in the area.

Next to the Malheur fungus, behemoths such as whales and elephants seem like small fry. However, the rest of life on Earth can rest easy knowing that this fungus is a vegetarian.