Mushroom hunting is a popular activity in Oregon. You can find them in many places all over the state, and some restaurants, like this one in Dayton, even specialize in dishes that contain wild mushrooms. The Beaver State is also home to the world’s largest fungus – one organism that’s said to be the largest in the world by area. Have you heard of Humongous Fungus? It’s the world’s largest mushroom… and naturally, it’s in Oregon!

To find the world's largest fungus, look to the Blue Mountains of the Malheur National Forest. Deep in the woods, you'll find Armillaria ostoyae (also called Armillaria solipides). Scientists have nicknamed it "Humongous Fungus."
Ken Lund/flickr
Armillaria is a kind of mushroom, and this particular fungus covers an area of 3.7 square miles. DNA tests show that the mushrooms you see spread over this large area all belong to one organism.
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That's possible because the fungus spreads with these tentacles known as rhizomorphs, or shoestrings. The rhizomorphs branch out far and wide from one cluster to another. Similar in some ways to tree roots, they can be up to 30 feet long.
Ericsteinert - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia

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The Armillaria found here in Oregon is said to weigh as much as 35,000 tons, and is thought to be around 8,000 years old. The organism spreads just one to three feet every year, so it definitely took thousands of years for it to spread out over 3.7 square miles.
Dieter Hopf/Getty Images
For most of the year, if you visit Humongous Fungus, you won't see any mushrooms (they develop over a short, two-week period every fall). Most of the time, you'll find trees covered with a thin, white layer of goo that looks and feels similar to paint. The fungus attaches to trees and permeates their bark and roots.
USDA
Once it attacks a tree, Armillaria eventually kills it. In this part of the forest, you can see the devastation. While scientists have tried to find ways to stop the spread of this huge fungus, they haven't come up with anything that works very well.
USDA
Armillaria ostoyae can be found in a few other places in the world, including Michigan and Germany, but Oregon's Humongous Fungus is the largest.
Armand Robichaud/flickr
The mushrooms that appear every fall are also called honey mushrooms, and they are edible.

Did you know the world’s largest fungus could be found in Oregon? How cool! Would you like to pick your own mushrooms?  If so, here’s a state park that has plenty, and it even offers tours with a ranger.

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world's largest mushroom

Sarah | December 16, 2021

What are some other world records in Oregon?

Some of Oregon's world records include:

  • Longest 24-hour rollerblade ride
  • Oldest footwear
  • World's smallest park
  • World's largest squash

 

Did you know that Oregon was home to the world's smallest park? It's true! Mill Ends Park is a teeny, tiny urban park, located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway in Downtown Portland. The park is a small circle two feet across, with a total area of 452 square inches. It's the smallest park in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The pint-sized park consists of just one little tree. Depending on the time of year, there may be a few colorful flowers, too. Another Oregon claim to fame is that the Beaver State is home to the world's last remaining Blockbuster. In 2004, Blockbuster had over 9,000 locations across the U.S. But now, there’s just one left in the entire world, and it's in Oregon. It's located up in Bend, and it's world-famous! The store played the titular role in “The Last Blockbuster,” a 2020 documentary that started trending in the Top 10 most-watched movies on Netflix!

Can I forage for mushrooms anywhere in Oregon?

With the world's largest fungus being in Oregon, one would assume that the state would be flush with fungus! And you'd be correct in that assumption. In addition to mushrooms, Oregon is also full of truffles, one of the most expensive and sought-after culinary ingredients in the world. There's actually a tour company in Oregon that takes folks on a truffle-hunting adventure, and it's a must if you're into foraging! On a two-hour truffle hunt with Black Tie Tours, you'll traipse through Oregon's gorgeous old-growth forest, letting Stefan and Ella guide the way. Stefan is a human; Ella is a dog! Ella, a canine with a nose for truffles. While pigs are most commonly used for truffle hunting, dogs can be trained to sniff out truffles, too. This is an only-in-Oregon experience for your bucket list, for sure!

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Malheur National Forest, Oregon, USA