Then I considered it a gamble that Douglas-fir Mother Trees would recognize their own kin, never mind that the signals might move through the mycorrhizal network—and mon Dieu! The firs recognized their relatives! The Mother Trees not only sent carbon to help support their mycorrhizal fungal symbionts, they somehow enhanced the health of their kin. And not only their kin, but of strangers too, and other species, promoting the diversity of the community.
