Often the coconut trees planted on the sea shore are seen leaning towards the water. It looks very beautiful. But have you ever wondered why these trees bend towards the water instead of the wind? There is an interesting scientific reason behind this.In the coastal areas of South India, coconut trees welcome us in rows. These trees are mostly inclined towards the sea. After all, why do these trees grow only on sandy shores instead of cities or mountains and why do they bend towards water? Let us know.
Most trees bend in the opposite direction of the wind, but coconut trees are different. They are more attracted towards sunlight. In science it is called ‘Phototropism’. The sky remains open over the sea, due to which the trees get uninterrupted sunlight. They lean towards the sea to get more sunlight.
The main reason for this is the coconut seed. Its outer shell is so light and strong that it can float on water for weeks. This process is called ‘Hydrochory’. When a ripe coconut falls, the waves carry it far away and as soon as a new shore is found, a plant grows there.
The long leaves of the coconut tree act as natural ‘solar panels’. The stronger the sunlight falls on them, the faster is the process of food preparation (Photosynthesis) inside the tree. In the shade of cities or mountains, they do not get so much open sunlight.
Coconut trees do not need very fertile soil. Beach sand and salt water are best for them. Their roots do not allow water to stagnate, they only retain moisture. Due to this the roots do not rot and the tree grows faster.
