Why do palm trees?

Question

Why is it that when you see palm trees on a beautiful beach somewhere, they are slanted out towards sea and not pointing up to the sky?

Answer 1

wind direction can affect plant growth - wind tends to blow hardest towards the land so the trees will bend that way.

Answer 2

Plants contain a protein that is decayed in sunlight.  This means that the side of the plant away from the sun will grow more, causing a bend towards the light.  Because the sun is rarely directly overhead, plants will tilt in the prevalent direction of the sun.