Why do coconut trees lean towards the sea?

Walk along any Kerala beach and you will see coconut palms leaning out over the water, as if they are trying to drink from the sea. There are three reasons, and they work together.

First, light. Trees grow towards sunlight. On a beach, the open sea side is bright and the land side is often shaded by other trees, so the palm bends towards the brighter side.

Second, wind. Steady sea breezes push young, bendy palms, and the trunk slowly sets into that lean.

Third, the sea itself is the palm’s postman. A coconut that falls into the water floats for months and can land on another shore and grow. Leaning over the water gives the next generation a better chance of travelling. Palms that leaned survived and spread; palms that did not, stayed home.