The Secret Life of Fungi Quotes

“This particular orchid gets all its energy from fungi, sometimes from different kinds of fungi simultaneously. It never even begins to turn to the sun. No photosynthesis here. It relies utterly on its underground friends: the unseen, unsung fungi. Forgive me if this is a romantic vision. Orchids seem to have that effect on people. But since finding out that they are essentially reliant on fungi, I have a new perspective. They are not lone, rising, random gifts, like treasure. They are weak and desperate, and they are gamblers, hoping their luck holds and a good strong friend can be found close by to give them everything they lack. What do the fungi get out of the deal? The relationship of the orchid to the fungus is described as myco-heterotrophic, with the plant sometimes viewed as a sort of parasite, taking the carbon it needs and giving nothing back. Perhaps there’s more we need to learn here, to understand it fully. But, for now, I’ll anthropomorphise and romanticise it further by maintaining that a fungus can make a really good friend, especially if you’re a rare, weak seed with no energy of your own.”
― Aliya Whiteley, The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries From a Hidden World

“From 1348 to 1350 the Black Death killed roughly a third of England's population, and chronicles recorded that, after months of heavy rain, the fields of rotting crops were taken over by enormous, vivid fungi in red, purple and black. What a sight that must have been at a terrifying time.”
― Aliya Whiteley, The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries from a Hidden World