Not exactly scientific, but the empirical evidence speaks volumes. Check out this guy's "tree antenna." http://www.qsl.net/kf4bwg/treeant.htm It seems to me that if the trees are a significant fraction of 1/4 wL on topband, they will absorb power. Whether they 're-radiate' that power, well, who knows. Ford-N0FP ford at cmgate.com