The largest living organism?

Question

What is the largest living being on our planet? Ignore the Gea theory, I'm just interested in plants or animals. I remember hearing it in a movie (yeah, I know, don't believe everything you hear) that the largest living organism on our planet is an aspen colony somewhere in Colorado. Though colony is probably not the right word for it, since it's just one tree with tree trunks growing from various parts of it's roots. Then again, I can't remember how big it is (not to mention how old). Any useful input is appreciated.

Answer 1

What is probably the largest living organism on earth has been discovered in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. A fungus living three feet underground is estimated to cover 2,200 acres. After testing samples from various locations, scientists say it is all one organism.

Officially known as Armillaria ostoyae, or the honey mushroom, the fungus is 3.5 miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields. The small mushrooms visible above ground are only the tip of the iceberg.

Answer 2

The largest living organism known is a fungus found in Oregon. It covers almost 2224 acres or 3.5 square miles. The Washington state fungus is only 1500 acres. The Aspen colony is only about 198 acres.

Answer 3

There is a fungus in SW Washington state that is a single organism that covers about 44 acres...it is unofficially the largest single organism in the world.

Answer 4

I'd say that giant psychedelic underground fungus that ate Mulder and Scully on the X-Files.

I don't know. I would guess the aspen colony is a good example. Maybe one of those enormous squid things that live on the ocean floor. Uh, a cypress? With those knees sticking out? Mangroves? A baobab? A big-a ss fig tree?

Answer 5

Probably the General Sherman Tree, in the Sequoia National Park.

As you noted in your aspen example, it depends on what you count as an "organism". It also depends on whether you're measuring "largest" by volume, mass, height, or length. The alternatives, and the "largest" by each alternative, are explained in Wikipedia.

Answer 6

The General Sherman, a Giant Sequoia, is generally considered to be the largest (by volume of its trunk) tree in the world

Answer 7

I believe its the Honey Mushroom growing in the US Malheur National Forest in Oregon which covers 890 hectares (2,200 acres).

Answer 8

Depends on how you define a fungal mycellium really. Is it a mutualistic colony or a discreet orgainsm?

Each cell can exist on its own without support from other cells in the mycellium, so my money is on the trees!

Answer 9

Sequoias trees or redwoods , one of them if you can find it. is the largest by weight and volume,

Now my uncle Leroy is large also,were Bigfoot creatures as you humans call us and he is over 14 feet tall, and weights aboutOne 1000 lbs, so-as to creatures. he is the biggest I have ever met that's for sure

Answer 10

You're right.
All the trees are clones of the original.
They propagate by rhizomes.
tc