A WOLF TREE. Jason Kottke had an article about a wolf tree, complete with a photograph of one that is hundreds of years old. He explains that a wolf tree is one that stands without any other tree near it.
In the absence of competition for light and space, these trees are free to branch out. Wolf trees, without competition, grow to be quite large and attain great age. Kotte says: “Wolf trees often look like they’re dead or dying, partially because of their age and all the damage they’ve taken over the years but also because …newer trees are crowding them out, restricting their sunlight and space.” Standing alone, they were targets for lightning.