Sophie Strand, known for her evocative integration of ecological systems and human storytelling, defines a 'mycorrhizal system' as an intricate symbiotic network where fungi and plant roots intertwine, forming a conduit of mutual exchange and communication. This underground collaboration becomes the forest's primal internet, with fungal filaments, or hyphae, extending far beyond the root zone to tap into distant resources. Plants provide fungi with essential carbohydrates derived from photosynthesis, while fungi reciprocate with vital nutrients and water, enhancing the resilience and vitality of both participants. Strand's perspective emphasizes the mycorrhizal system not merely as a biological phenomenon but as a testament to the profound interconnectedness of life, where the boundaries between individual organisms blur, and survival hinges on cooperation and shared existence within the vast, unseen web beneath our feet.

See also: mycelium, fungi, root system, mycorrhizal fungi, ecosystem