Mycorrhizal fungi are ecologically significant because they form symbiotic relationships in and on the roots of host plants. The host plant provides the fungus with a soluble carbon source, and the fungus provides the host plant with an increased capacity to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Thus, both partners benefit from this relationship. It has been found that the majority of plants do have mycorrhizal fungi associated with them; some of these associations are very specific while others are very broad.