Template:Nature-Tree The Tree of Wisdom (Terrefel) is a mythical tree from the world Selab in the Mathonore system. The Lasarla fruit it bears is said to increase the wisdom and intelligence of whoever eats it.
The Tree
The trees were first discovered when the Hapes Consortium colonised the Mathonore system in 361, during the First Expansion Era. The settlers were seeking out local fruits and roots which could be used as food for the new population.
The trees are usually found in dry inland areas of the planet and most of the regions containing them have been made protected natural reservations. During the Hapan civil war, the amount of trees on Selab was greatly reduced due to battles and planetary bombardment. However, it is expected that the population of trees will recover within ten years.
The life-span of the trees varies greatly among the different types. The smaller ones live typically between six and ten years, while the slightly larger ones live anywhere from 10 to 30 years.
The thick trunk is connected to a limited number of smaller branches which are covered in twigs filled with needle leaves and the occasional Lasarla fruit.
Over the centuries, the Trees of Wisdom have become popular gifts among the royalty and nobility of the Hapes Consortium due to their rarity and value. A tree from Selab is considered the crown jewel of any magnificent garden.
When removed from their natural environment on Selab, the trees require constant nurturing and supervision. One of the main requirements is strong lighting and moderate water supply. Most Trees of Wisdom are lit up by hovering light projectors which simulate the warmth of the Mathonore system’s sun.
The Fruit
The Lasarla fruit grows on most Trees of Wisdom and is the major contributing factor to the myth surrounding the trees. It is said that if a person eats the fruit, he receives wisdom beyond his years.
Whether this has any basis in fact has never been proven, due to the traditional taboo relating to research on Selab trees during the Age of Queen-Mothers. During the Phoenix Age and Golden Age, all cultural institutions decided to respect the traditional view of the trees.
