EFFECT OF LIGHTNING ON COCONUT PALMS. 
39 
in a district at least three days’ journey from a laboratory, 
no further investigation could be made. 
Another case was examined about a month after the 
occurrence. A breadfruit tree {Ariocarpus incisa) was said 
to have been actually struck, and this was dead and leafless, 
though its trunk was not split. Close to it was a coconut 
palm about 12 feet shorter. This was not quite dead ; 
it showed long red streaks of sap, particularly in the lower 
half of the stem, and had two short vertical wounds, 
one at 12 feet and the other at 18 feet from the ground, 
from which the vascular bundles were protruding in loose 
masses. Westward from these two the palms, only 15 feet 
away, showed no sign of injury, but to the east twentj^ trees, 
which were taller than the breadfruit tree, were affected. 
Their trunks bore red bleeding spots, and their crowns were 
scorched, the outer leaves being generally withered and 
drooping, though the youngest leaves were still erect and 
green. None of these showed any injury to the stem, except 
the exudation of sap. Two palms had been felled, as being 
beyond recovery, and four others appeared to be dying. The 
tree with the worst crown was about 20 yards from the 
breadfruit tree, and the affected area formed, roughly, an 
ellipse, with the breadfruit tree at one focus. 
In general, the effects of lightning on coconut palms may be 
summarized as follows. A group of trees, not differing in any 
obvious respect from the surrounding trees, is affected ; sap 
exudes from the trunks of all these trees ; their crowns are 
slightly scorched ; one tree is more severely affected than the 
others, and this is regarded as the tree actually struck.. In 
some cases longitudinal wounds are made in the stem ; and 
if the crown is surrounded by dead leaves these may be set 
on fire. But apparently these last two effects are rare. The 
occurrence of injured trees in groups is especially remarkable. 
As regards the ultimate fate of coconut palms struck by 
lightning, there would appear to be a considerable difference 
of opinion. To quote again from the “ Tropical Agriculturist ” 
(Vol. VI., page 73) : “ On one occasion, when a crash gave 
rise to the impression that ‘ the sky had fallen,’ we felt certain 
that something had been struck, and on going to the seashore 
