>The trees don't even have to "consent" to this The trees benefit as well — the fungus gives minerals, and in exchange the trees give sugars. It's a transactio

>The trees don't even have to "consent" to this The trees benefit as well — the fungus gives minerals, and in exchange the trees give sugars. It's a transaction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza#Sugar-water.2Fmineral_exchange https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza#Sugar-water.2Fminer... >benevolent parasite The word you're looking for is "symbiosis". It seems like you're trying hard to view this through a lens of competition instead of cooperation.