Trees and Fungi

Suzanne Simard is the tree professor at the University of British Columbia.[1] She discovered through her research that yew trees communicate chemically through fungi with their neighboring trees for mutual defense. Trees are connected below ground through a fungi network that resembles the human brain’s neural networks. For example, Simard observed a Douglas fir injured by insects that seemingly passed chemical warning messages to a nearby ponderosa. The pine tree produced defense enzymes that protected it against insects. Similarly, birch trees protected fir from Armillaria root disease. When trees are dying, they pass off as much as 40% of their carbon to their neighboring trees.

​Simard also discovered that the trees share nutrients at critical times to maintain community health.[2] Older “mother” trees facilitate the growth of seedlings by passing carbon, water, and nutrients to the seedlings using mycorrhizal fungus. The trees need the fungus to survive, grow, and pass on their genes. The fungus depends on the trees because they lack leaves (for photosynthesis). Trees give away carbohydrates, while fungi provide nutrients. 
 
Meditation
1 Chronicles 16:33--Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.
Isaiah 55:12--You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
 
I suspect there is more to the woodland than we will ever know this side of heaven.  When David and Isaiah proclaimed forest worship, they were not wrong. We can learn a lot from trees and fungi. Here are a few takeaways:
1.          When one member of God’s family comes under attack from Satan (the chief of all pests), alert others—let them know to beware and enlist their prayer support.
2.         When hard times come—famines and disasters, don’t hoard, share!  Find those who are weak and in bad shape and provide help. The world receives a gospel message when the body of Christ rallies around its community.
3.         As life becomes short, pass on wisdom and truth to those who are younger.  Invest from your shrinking, precious reservoir in those who are younger so that they are better equipped to thrive before what you have is gone.  “And the trees of the field will clap their hands” . . . something to think about . . . in reveration.
 
Inspiration
"A fruit-bearing tree lives not for itself, but wholly for those to whom its fruit brings refreshment and life.  And so the branch exists only and entirely for the sake of the fruit."—Andrew Murray in Abide In Christ
 
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/04/993430007/trees-talk-to-each-other-mother-tree-ecologist-hears-lessons-for-people-too
[2] Ibid