source: Entangled Life (chapter 1) by Merlin Sheldrake

fungal hyphae become a mycelial network using two key moves:

  • branching
  • fusing - must find other hyphae by homing

Hyphae need to know what they’re fusing with

  • some fungi have tens of thousands of mating types
  • sometimes hyphae fuse with their own mycelial network, but “self” here is not a binary

“Many fungi produce plant and animal hormones to alter the physiology of their associates”

Predatory fungi

Some fungi eat nematode worms. They’ll only do this if:

  • there’s not enough plant material to decompose
  • the fungus senses a worm close by

The fungus produces worm-hunting organs, which issue a chemical summons

Some fungal tools:

  • adhesive nets
  • hyphal nooses - inflate when touched
  • toxic hyphal stalks
  • spores that find the worm

Smells

Human smell: we can distinguish between a trillion odors

  • plants, fungi and animals use similar receptors for detecting chemicals
  • fungi don’t have noses - they use their whole bodies as one big nose
  • olfactory flashbacks often include visual and emotional memories

“Male orchid bees collect scents from the world and amass them into a cocktail that they use to court females”

truffles

Piedmont white truffles have never been domesticated

  • exist as mycelial networks for most of the year
  • the truffles produce spores
  • Use smell to attract animals

Truffles must partner with trees, and the partner tree must consent

  • some fungi will cause disease, while other relationships are symbiotic

Truffle mycelium sense their surroundings and responds unpredictably diversity dogs are trained to find new types of truffles Truffles may provide an incentive for people to leave forests alone