Ectomycorrhizal hyphae extend out from one plant's root

Root

In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...

s they often encounter the root systems of other plants. If those plants also associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi, the hyphae will often grow around the root and create a new mycorrhizal structure. In this way, two plants can be linked into what is called a "common mycorrhizal network". The networks can link individuals plants of the same species or of different species.

Discovery

These networks were first observed in laboratory studies that used glass boxes, which allowed researchers to visually follow hyphae. The hyphae are both small and fragile and any disturbance of the soil often breaks hyphal connections. So researchers were unable to dig into the soil to see the networks without destroying them.