Do trees communicate via a ‘wood wide web’? The evidence is lacking

A review of studies on mycorrhizal fungi found insufficient evidence to support the general idea that trees communicate and share resources through these underground networks.

To Luke Taylor

The idea that trees communicate with each other and share resources via an underground network of fungi is sometimes referred to as the “broad web of wood,” but researchers reviewing the science say the evidence to support it is He says there are very few.

Mycorrhizal fungi inhabit the roots of plants and form a vast network under the forest floor. In recent years, books and documentaries have popularized the idea that these fungal networks help trees recognize related individuals…