RE: Largest living organism

Yes, you folks are right!  I posed the question in relation to
discussion on mycorrhizae so thought that was a hint.  In my research
into that topic, I came across this discovery.  A single organism is
defined as including all parts having an identical genetic make-up,
having been derived from a single individual.

Most people would guess that the giant sequoia, weighing up to 2,000
tonnes, is the largest member of the plant kingdom, elephants and whales
as the largest land and aquatic mammals.

According to an article by Dr. Alun Rees in the Sept/93 issue of 'The
Garden; Journal of the RHS', an individual thallus of Armillaria
bulbosa, a species of honey fungus, covers 15ha (37 acres) of hardwood
forest in Michigan, with a calculated mass weight of over 100 tonnes.
Although many large fungal masses are known, this is the largest by far
and is all living matter whereas the sequoia comprises wood which is
non-living in a comparison of live weight.

Calculations of the rate of growth show it to be at least 1,500 years
old; its genetic makeup has established it is unequivocally a single
organism (genetically identical over the 37 acres) and was derived from
a single spore so long ago!

I couldn't resist posing this question while on the topic of fungi.

Diane Pertson
Otter Point Haven otterpt@macn.bc.ca
Nature Notes from Vancouver Island
http://zapbc.com/nature.htm at
Parksville & Qualicum Beach Online http://zapbc.com
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