Summary
- One Elden Ring fan has suggested that the Erdtree might be based on the Western Australia Christmas Tree.
- Not only do they look extremely similar, but both trees are believed to house the souls of the dead.
Elden Ring’s most iconic image is, without a doubt, the Erdtree. Clearly styled on the World Tree from the Berserk manga that Hidetaka Miyazaki so often pulls from, it can be seen stretching its branches across the sky throughout the Lands Between.
The World Tree is inspired by Yggdrasil and the Bodhi Tree from Norse mythology and Buddhism, which Elden Ring likewise appears to take inspiration from.
But Reddit user Independent-Design17 thinks there’s another inspiration that we’ve missed — the Nuytsia floribund, AKA the Western Australia Christmas Tree.
Even At Christmas, Elden Ring Fans Are Digging Deep Into The Lore
As they point out, it looks a lot like the Erdtree, especially Minor ones. But there are much deeper similarities than mere aesthetic.
In Elden Ring, we come to learn that the souls of the dead were ceremoniously shepherded to the Erdtree, which is why we find catacombs built around its giant roots. Demigods and champions are even “hewn by the Erdtree” into remembrances. The cycle of life and death is a core part of its mythos, and the Nuytsia has similar cultural significance.
As explained on the Margaret River town website by author Sharnae Watson, the aboriginal Wadandi people know the Nuytsia as a “spirit tree”, with each flower representing the soul of someone who has died. Given the bright, vibrant colouring, it’s often seen as a sunset. And so it’s believed that spirits travel across Australia, through “the caves and over the ocean”, to finally rest, much as they do in Elden Ring.
Another connection drawn by Independent-Design17 ties into a popular theory among Elden Ring fans. It’s often argued that the Erdtree is a parasite which infested the roots of an original, primordial Great Tree. It’s believed that this Great Tree housed the Crucible, a melting pot of all life. Similarly, the Nuytsia is a hemiparasite, stealing water and minerals from surrounding plants to survive.
However, it’s worth noting that the parasite theory is hotly contested. For one, the ‘Great Tree’ mentioned in various item descriptions doesn’t exist. It’s the result of a mistranslation (as pointed out by LaMi_1). In actuality, the translation should be “Great Roots” of the Erdtree itself. Nonetheless, some still believe that it’s a parasite, and that it was planted by the Greater Will for ill intent.
Whatever the case, there are some striking similarities between the Erdtree, both visually and thematically, and the Nuytsia. Whether intentional or not, only FromSoftware can confirm. But nonetheless, it’s a fun excuse to replay Elden Ring this Christmas, eh?
With worldbuilding from Game of Thrones scribe George R.R. Martin and developed by FromSoftware, Elden Ring is a masterpiece in what has become known as the ‘Soulslike’ genre of action role-playing games.