The largest living organism in the world is a fungus – or more precisely, a fungus. It is quite common in Poland, forming small communities, but a in eastern Oregon, they grew so much that they became record holders.
Opieńki dark (Latin: Armillaria ostoyae) they often grow in larger communities that constitute one organism – they usually occupy a large part of the tree trunk, but in one of the American states Opieńka covered over 9 km2. Scientists conducted research in 2003 and discovered that the fungus germinated from a spore approximately 8,000 years ago. years. It has grown so large that it is the largest living organism on Earth.
However, the Oregon specimen is not the heaviest (discovered) in the world, this name goes to the dusky moth from Utah, that the mushroom weighs over 6.5 thousand. tons and covers approximately 43 ha. However, this size does not refer to fruiting bodies – they are not excessively large, they are gigantic in size and are hidden underground, creating a network of mycelium that combines into one organism and colonizes trees and soil.
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Opieńki can be recognized quite easily due to several characteristic elements that distinguish these mushrooms – however, if you are not sure about specific specimens, it is better to go mushroom picking with someone experienced. Opieńka has a hat with a diameter of 4 to 12 cm. In young fruiting bodies it is semicircular, later it straightens out. Its color ranges from brown to honeyscales are also visible. The stem has a characteristic ring, below which it becomes darker. The gills are light, sometimes they may darken – importantly, they are not greenish. The flesh is elastic and white, with a slightly floury aroma.
They pay attention to all these features, it is difficult to confuse it with other mushrooms, sometimes one may have doubts in the case of the bunch butterfly, but it does not have a ring on the stem. When going to the forest, you can also use an application that helps identify species.
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This fungus is common in almost all regions in our country, it can most often be found from mid-September to the end of November. It usually appears in deciduous and mixed forests. The moth prefers a humid environment, likes to grow on dead trees, and most often appears in groups, so it is easy to find small colonies of fungi on one trunk.
Moreover, when finding rashes, it is worth returning to the same place, this fungus often eagerly “comes back”. It is important to remember that the dark mushroom is suitable for consumption after heat treatment – frying or boiling. Raw mushrooms may cause digestive problems.
