It Turns Out Trees Need Friends Too

Did you know that many trees in a forest are actually connected underground and that they can share information and even help each other survive — kind of like friends? They do this through what are called mycelial networks — a subterranean superhighway of sorts, referred to often as “the wood-wide web.”

When trees hook up to this vast network, they can become more disease resistant and even transfer nutrients to other trees. In fact, younger saplings struggling in disadvantaged growing conditions can receive needed carbon from older, more mature trees. 

In a 2010 agricultural study, it was found that plants can even alert their neighbors of the presence of harmful fungi by releasing chemical warning signals into the mycelia. And New Zealand scientists recently found that a network of trees kept what what thought to be a dead beech tree stump alive that had been cut down around 400-500 years ago.

We’re connected to people in our interpersonal networks and can influence them — for better or worse, in  ways that aren’t always so evident. Don’t underestimate the support you can gain from friends lend to others  to help them overcome challenges, grow and thrive. After all, if even trees can do it, it should be a lot easier for us. Don’t neglect this important branch of your life — pay attention to your relationships because they greatly influence our happiness.

Using lessons and examples from the natural world, Branches Productivity helps lead you down the path to balanced growth. You’ll learn how to create a flexibility personal productivity practice that creates more purpose and meaning in your life — while helping you get the most important things done on a daily basis. If you want to get things growing in your life, get the guide — it’s completely free (and no trees were harmed in producing this ebook).

 

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/