Armillaria ostoyae - a Fungus

The largest living organism on earth is a honey fungus (Armillaria ostoyae) that stretches across an estimated area of 2,384 acres (9.6 square kilometers) in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon. This enormous fungus is primarily exists underground as a network of mycelium—the thread-like structures that make up the main structure of a mushroom. It serves as a fascinating reminder of the hidden and expansive living world beneath our feet. . . . . . . . . . #northsporemushrooms #northspore #spre

Check out this impressively chonky cluster of #HoneyMushrooms or #Armillaria, most likely part of the #Armillariamellea species complex. These Honey mushrooms have a thick stem with a ring (annulus) and white spores They are strongly parasitic mushrooms that use weaponized mycelium (Rhizomorphs) to creep between the bark of wood of a tree, cutting off the flow of the xylem and floem, effectively girdling and killing the tree. After killing the tree, they use white rot wood decay enzymes to break