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

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

Getting hit by lightning is not usually a good thing.