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FACTOID!!
One winter rye plant can grow over 600 kilometers (372 miles) of roots in one growing season.


Killer trees feasting on bugs


Killer trees feasting on bugs
"Beware the killer pine!" Ecologists have found that white pines in Ontario work as a team with mushrooms to eat insects alive. Beige mushrooms release a toxin that paralyzes tiny springtails that live in the soil. The mushrooms then grow inside the springtails, eating them alive. The mushrooms are attached to the roots of the pine trees, and feed nutrients, such as nitrogen, from the insects to the tree. The trees produce sugars, and return these to the mushrooms. This is the first time that trees have been found acting as predators.
APRIL 5, 2001
The Globe and Mail
APRIL 5, 2001

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