In the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, USA, there is a giant fungus covering 2,200 acres of land. It is the largest organism found in the world so far and has become a major landscape in the area. Known as the "honey mushroom," Armillaria fungi develop from single, invisible spores and have been around for more than 2,400 years, killing trees as they grow. Where this fungus exists, there will be large amounts of dead trees. According to expert inspections, the "honey mushroom" extends for 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers), penetrates an average of 3 feet (0.9 meters) into the soil, and covers an area the size of about 1,665 football fields. No one can estimate how much it weighs. Experts say that current science and technology have not discovered any larger animals or plants than this fungus.

This is the second Armillaria fungus to be discovered in Washington state, after one was found in Adams in 1992 and covered 1,500 acres. Forest scientists in the United States are eager to find a way to control this fungus, which causes serious damage to trees. But scientists also believe that this fungus may play some positive roles in the future.

Scientist Catherine Parks discovered the mushroom while studying tree death in the area. She used aerial photography to identify areas where trees were dying and sampled the roots of the dead trees. She discovered the fungus through DNA testing, then compared 112 samples before identifying the world's largest fungus.