Hidden underground is an information superhighway made of Fungus. It allows plants to communicate and help each other survive.
Plants use a very interconnected method of communication to survive. Similar to how neural networks in our brain are formed, networks are formed with roots and mycelium in the forests connecting all plants together. The fungal network is the oldest communication system in existence, having been developed billions of years ago. The Mushroom fungi feed off of nutrients found around living root systems, and in exchange connect them together to allow for chemical messages to be sent. All forest networks rely on these connections to survive and thrive.
“The more we learn about these underground networks, the more our ideas about plants have to change. They aren’t just sitting there quietly growing. By linking to the fungal network they can help out their neighbours by sharing nutrients and information – or sabotage unwelcome plants by spreading toxic chemicals through the network.”- Nic Fleming
This connections allows the plants to interact and live as a community. Often with trees the the largest, oldest, ones can be seen as “mother trees” serving as hubs with root systems connecting trees for miles and miles. In their underground communication carbon can be sent and nutrients are able to be shared and divided to those that need it most.