wood-wide-web
The underground network of mycorrhizal fungi that facilitates communication and nutrient exchange between trees and plants, forming a cooperative ecological system.
1 chapter across 1 book
Underland: A Deep Time Journey (2019)Robert Macfarlane
Chapter 4: The Understorey explores the complex underground networks that connect forest ecosystems, particularly focusing on fungal mycelia and their role in communication and cooperation among trees and plants. It draws on scientific research and cultural reflections to reveal how these subterranean networks challenge traditional perceptions of individuality and ecosystem functioning, emphasizing symbiosis, interconnectedness, and the sentience of non-human life. The chapter also touches on the cultural and political significance of fungi, their resilience in extreme environments like Chernobyl, and the importance of developing new perceptual and linguistic frameworks to engage with these hidden worlds.