Africa’s fynbos plants hold their ground with the world’s thinnest roots
The fynbos shrubland weaponizes its very thin roots in the race to suck up nutrients
![fynbos shrubland next to lush forest on a hillside in South Africa](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/021822_jb_root-competition_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
South Africa’s fynbos shrubland (background) abruptly transitions to lush forest (foreground), a standoff maintained by the fynbos’ ultrathin root system.
Lars Hedin