The ‘wood-wide web’ has captured the interest of broad audiences. Common mycorrhizal networks namely fungi that physically link roots of different trees together are purported to be widespread and mediate transfer of resources and signals from trees to seedlings in forests. In this talk I challenge popular claims about the function of common mycorrhizal networks in forests and highlight the misinformation that has developed in recent years.   Justine Karst grew up in western Canada and was curious about forests from childhood on. From that curiosity she completed a PhD in mycorrhizal ecology and in 2016 joined the faculty at the University of Alberta where she is Associate Professor. For the past 20 years she has studied the mycorrhizal ecology of forests with a preference for the boreal region.  She is currently Vice President of the International Mycorrhiza Society.