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The post Can Plants Really Gather Nutrients and Water on Their Own? first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

It is thought that the ancestors of plants that first moved from the oceans onto land developed this relationship to obtain nutrients and water.

By contrast, fungi that form ectomycorrhizae surround the outside of plant roots with a sheath of fungal hyphae. This is often compared to a “sock” wrapped around the root.
Another characteristic of ectomycorrhizal fungi is that they produce mushrooms.
The fungi that form arbuscular mycorrhizae produce neither these root sheaths nor mushrooms.
Which type of mycorrhizal relationship a plant forms is largely determined by the plant species. The type of forest itself is also closely connected to these underground partnerships.

The post Roots Wrapped in “Socks”? Meet Mycorrhizae first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

This is one reason why orchids, which have limited photosynthetic ability, and plants such as Monotropastrum that do not photosynthesize can grow in forests: they can obtain energy and nutrients produced through photosynthesis by other plants via these fungal networks.

Underground fungal networks help sustain the forests we see above ground.

The post Fungi Build Underground Networks first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

Fungal hyphae form networks that gather water and nutrients over a wide area. They also surround the roots like a protective “sock,” helping shield the trees from pathogens and other threats.

In 2011, the massive tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake swept away the approximately 70,000 pine trees of Takata Matsubara in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.
Only one particularly large tree survived. It became known as the “Miracle Pine.”

Today, new pine trees are being planted and nurtured at the site. Beneath the ground, new mycorrhizal relationships will surely be forming, with fungal hyphae beginning their vital work once again.

The post The Fungal Story Hidden in the “Miracle Pine” first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

The post The “Invisible” Communication of the Forest first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

From tropical rainforests in Central America to Japan’s evergreen forests, plants from diverse environments around the world come together in an extraordinary large-scale indoor planting area unlike any other.
Some plants that cannot be transported from their native habitats are represented by highly detailed, life-size models, including the parasitic Rafflesia and Balanophora, as well as the titan arum, sometimes called the world’s largest flower. The latest technology has been used to create these models, including 3D scanning of actual plants.

Experience a forest where living plants and remarkably realistic models come together—and discover the world of communication between plants and other living beings that unfolds within it.

The post Plants from Around the World Come Together as One Forest first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

Plants are also often considered immobile. But when we change our timescale, their movements become surprisingly visible, revealing behavior that can resemble animals.

Through animation and specially filmed footage, this theater offers an accessible way to explore how plants perceive their world, while comparing their senses and experience of time with those of humans.

The post The Umwelt Theater: Experience Plants’ Sense of Time and Perception first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

Nippon Life Insurance Company

Each area introduces plants that may be familiar in everyday life yet face threats such as extinction. Through engaging messages and experiences that invite visitors to look closely and interact, the exhibition reveals the unexpected realities these plants face.
Take the ginkgo tree, for example.

Ginkgoes have existed since ancient times, but most of the trees we see today have been cultivated. Wild ginkgoes are considered extinct.
These lesser-known facts are presented through visual storytelling, such as leaves inspired by the ancient past hidden among fallen leaves, and information concealed within the foliage.

Ginkgo tree

Nippon Life Insurance Company

By sparking visitors’ curiosity and encouraging them to discover information for themselves, the exhibition aims to turn an understanding of the current situation facing plants into genuine interest and concern.

The post The Hidden Reality of Familiar Plants first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.

Outdoor area concept image

Nippon Life Insurance Company

Visitors can use their smartphones or other devices to scan QR codes hidden within unique installations for each plant, revealing information about its current situation and messages about its future.

Visitors can also collect the plants they discover in their own illustrated guide, combining the fun of a stamp rally with opportunities to learn about environmental issues.
Find. Learn. Collect. Through this experience, visitors can continue thinking about environmental challenges and discover ways to turn that awareness into action.

The post Discover the Hidden Plants of Our World first appeared on テーマ館「ねっこ」.