Elden Ring's Mystical Tree of Erd: A Gaming Holiday Wonder

Reddit user Independent-Design17 proposed a fascinating connection between Elden Ring's Erdtree and the Australian Christmas tree, Nuytsia floribunda. While a surface-level resemblance, particularly between the smaller Erdtrees in the game and Nuytsia, is apparent, fans have uncovered intriguing deeper similarities.

Elden Ring lore suggests the Erdtree guides the souls of the deceased, explaining the catacombs at its base. Intriguingly, Nuytsia holds significant spiritual importance in Australian Aboriginal culture, often referred to as a "spirit tree." Each flowering branch represents a departed soul, and its vibrant color is linked to the sunset, the believed destination of spirits.

Further strengthening the connection is Nuytsia's semi-parasitic nature; it draws nutrients from surrounding plants. This mirrors a popular fan theory regarding the Erdtree's parasitic nature, suggesting it usurped the life force of an ancient Great Tree. However, it's now understood that game descriptions referencing a "Great Tree" are mistranslations, actually referring to the Erdtree's own extensive root system.

Ultimately, whether these parallels to Nuytsia are deliberate design choices or coincidental remains a mystery known only to FromSoftware.