News Plants

Some tropical trees act as lightning rods to fend off rivals

Taking a jolt of lightning also kills parasitic vines

A Dipteryx oleifera tree stand above the forest. It benefits from lightning strikes, new research suggests.

A Dipteryx oleifera tree, standing tall in the jungle. Researchers think that this tree’s height and large crown attract lightning.

Evan Gora

By Javier Barbuzano

Getting hit by lightning is not usually a good thing. But one tropical tree species seems to harness heaven’s wrath. Not only do the trees survive lightning strikes, but their height and voluminous crowns act as natural lightning rods, attracting strikes that damage foes and boost their competitive advantage in the dense jungle.