Orchid Parents Nurture Seedlings Through Fungal Networks
British scientists have discovered that some orchids can feed their seedlings. The Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) is a widespread terrestrial in Europe and parts of Asia. Mature plants of this species enlist underground networks of fungi to share sugars with nearby seedlings. Senior study author Katie Field, a biologist at the University of Sheffield, stated that “This finding is exciting because why these orchids are often found in clumps, despite their seeds being wind dispersed, has been a puzzle for hundreds of years.”
It’s been known for over a century that wild orchid seeds need a fungus partner to germinate. Many plants, in addition to orchids, use fungal networks to transfer water, nutrients, and even chemical messages. Future studies hope to better understand the process, and to see if other species also nurture their seedlings.
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