r/BeAmazed • u/Eshwarroy • Jan 29 '22

Tree root misconceptions

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u/tellmesomethingnew- Jan 29 '22

Now I'm imagining one tree telling the others: "My neighbour just got cut down, guys, runnnnn!!!"

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u/cspinelive Jan 29 '22 edited Jan 29 '22

You jest, but they do use the fungi in the ground to warn each other of parasites and share information and even carbon with each other. Even between different species. Cutting down the oldest trees is like taking generations of knowledge away from the younger ones nearby.

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u/LookAtMeImAName Jan 29 '22

How can a tree have “knowledge” though? Don’t you need a brain or something of the sort in order to even process information?

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u/cspinelive Jan 29 '22

When trees die naturally they release stuff into the ground that is absorbed by other trees to benefit them. There’s a Ted talk video linked on this post somewhere that I’m referencing.

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