The largest known plant on Earth, roughly three times the size of Manhattan has been discovered.

The largest known plant on Earth, a Seagrass, roughly three times the size of Manhattan has been discovered off the coast of Australia .

Using genetic testing, scientists have discovered that a large underwater meadow in Western Australia is in fact one plant and it is believed to have spread from a single seed over at least 4,500 years.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia says the Seagrass covers about 200 square kilometers, adding that the team stumbled upon the discovery by accident at Shark Bay, about 800kilometers north of Perth.

They had set out to understand the genetic diversity of the species also known as ribbon weed which is commonly found along parts of Australia’s coast.