Mycelium
The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae) that spread through soil or other substrates. The main body of the fungus; mushrooms are just reproductive structures.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 3 chapters:
"...ld favor the cheaters - unless detection and punishment systems evolved. The same logic applies to business partnerships. Mutualistic Networks: Mycelium Some symbioses extend beyond pairs to create networked exchanges. Dig up a handful of forest soil and you're holding 100 miles of fungal filament."
"A single ECM fungal network can connect hundreds of trees across hectares. Network architecture: A single fungal individual (technically a mycelium) can span square kilometers, producing billions of hyphal threads (each 2-10 micrometers diameter) that infiltrate soil."
"Walk through a temperate forest and you'll encounter the work of these decomposers: the earthy smell of fungal mycelium breaking down logs, the soft crumble of wood transformed to powder, the white threads of fungi spreading beneath bark like intricate lace."
Biological Context
A single mycelium can extend for miles, making fungi among the largest organisms on Earth. Mycelium breaks down organic matter, forms mycorrhizal partnerships with plants, and can transport nutrients across considerable distances. It's the infrastructure underlying forest ecosystems.
Business Application
Business mycelium: the invisible infrastructure connecting visible entities. Supply chains, financial networks, communication systems. Most business value flows through connections people don't see.