One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
A fungus which grows in association with the roots of a plant in a symbiotic or mildly pathogenic relationship.
- ‘These data thus support the authors' suggestion that mycorrhizae are important in enabling plant roots to exploit nutrient patches that might otherwise be out of reach.’
- ‘The specialized roots which the plants grow and the fungus which inhabits them are together known as mycorrhizae, or ‘fungal roots’.’
- ‘For the past two years Dave has been working on a system of growing the mycorrhizae on a host grass plant in small beds of compost.’
- ‘A special type of beneficial root fungi, called mycorrhizae, actually grow into plant roots, feeding off plant sap but also providing water and nutrients to the plant.’
- ‘In addition, most vascular plants could not grow without the symbiotic fungi, or mycorrhizae, that inhabit their roots and supply essential nutrients.’
Late 19th century: modern Latin, from myco- ‘of fungi’ + Greek rhiza ‘root’.
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