Do Trees Communicate ? by Horst Cerni

Title: Do Trees Talk to Each Other?
Author: Richard Grant
Publication: Smithsonian
Date: February 20, 2018
Trees have always fascinated me and I wondered at their differences. After seeing the beautiful photos by Neena and Myra of unusual trees and their roots, I remembered that some years back, I read that scientists discovered that trees communicate with each other. According to The Science Times, “Beneath the forest floor, hidden from human sight, an intricate network of communication is happening right now. Trees are exchanging information, sharing resources, and even warning each other about danger, all through an underground system so complex, it rivals the internet itself.

This phenomenon, known as the "wood wide web," has revolutionized how scientists understand forests and how trees interact with one another.” The Smithsonian Magazine had published an article entitled “Do Trees Talk to Each Other?

Click here for the article

Summary:

The article explores the idea that trees communicate and cooperate through underground fungal networks, often described as a “wood wide web.” It discusses research suggesting trees can share nutrients, send warning signals, and respond to stress in ways that challenge the view of forests as collections of isolated organisms. The piece also presents debate among scientists about how far these findings should be interpreted.

Quotes: 

“The trees have become vibrantly alive and charged with wonder.”

“They're communicating with one another, for starters.”

“There's a kind of social network underground.”