Fungi: a trees best friend
Every tree has a secret partner underground. It is not another tree, but fungi, weaving connections that make forests thrive. Without them, trees could not live as we know them.
We love to learn from nature and let it inspire us. And few teachers are as fascinating or as surprising as fungi.
Yes, fungi. The mushrooms on your pizza, the yeast that makes bread rise, even the mould on old bread all belong to a kingdom that is neither plant nor animal but something entirely their own. And the more we learn about them, the more we realise they may hold the secrets to how life survives, adapts, and connects.
The hidden kingdom beneath our feet
Beneath our feet lies a vast living network, like an underground internet, connecting trees, plants, and roots across entire forests. Scientists call it the mycorrhizal network. It is made up of microscopic fungal threads that exchange nutrients and send chemical signals, almost like passing messages between plants.
It has even been nicknamed the Wood Wide Web. Through it, trees can share resources with neighbours, warn each other of pests, and even nurse saplings in the shade. It sounds like something out of Avatar, and it is very real.
When we think of giant life forms, we picture blue whales or redwood trees. But the largest organism on Earth is actually a fungus.
Meet Armillaria ostoyae, also called the honey fungus. In Oregon’s Blue Mountains, this single fungal colony covers almost nine square kilometers and is thousands of years old. Scientists think it could weigh hundreds of tons, all hidden beneath the forest floor.
Strange powers and everyday magic
Fungi are the cleanup crew of the planet. Without them, fallen trees, leaves, and organic matter would pile up endlessly. They break down tough materials like wood into nutrients that can be reused by plants. In short, they turn death into soil, transforming endings into beginnings.
And fungi come with a touch of magic too. Some can glow in the dark. Known as foxfire or fairy fire, these mushrooms shine with a soft green light at night, as if the forest floor were sprinkled with starlight. Scientists believe the glow helps attract insects that spread their spores. It feels like something from a fairytale.
They have also shaped our own history. The antibiotic penicillin was discovered from a mould, saving millions of lives. Yeast gave us bread, beer, and wine. And psychedelic mushrooms inspired the music and art of the 60s, and are now being studied for their potential to treat depression and PTSD.
Lessons from fungi
Fungi remind us that connection is power. They show us that cooperation, recycling, and transformation are not just survival strategies but the foundation of thriving ecosystems.
At Treebytree, we believe the same is true for people. Every tree planted does more than grow. It supports entire webs of life, just like fungi do underground.
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