Khisbat Palm

As the hot breath of Sahra' al-Shams combs through her pearly fronds, a soft gleam laps up their solar touch. She feeds and nurtures the abundant fruit of her bosom, great clusters of spiked ruby dates dangling from her branches. But her generosity reaches farther than her own children. Vibrant life springs from desolate sand where her fruit falls, as though Luxis herself touches the soil through them. She is the persistsant, generous soul of Aasaru herself, the great mother of the desert. The khisbat alnakhla or khisbat palm tree is one of the most iconic and foundational plant species of both the Shamsi and Arabiyyah Deserts, valued for its dates. A Khisbat Palm is able to absorb strong sunlight or radiation, infusing this energy into its fruit. These dates are packed with nutrients, water and carbohydrates—far more than ordinary dates. In addition, anywhere any part of these fruit fall or take root, desert plantlife will blossom and thrive thanks to Aasaru's Fertility! New oases may spring to life around these bountiful trees which is why Khisbat has become a symbol of fertility and prosperity. Producer Evergreen Woody Waxy Spinose Fruit Vegetable

Kaithur

First Ability Rithaldis' Diet Khisbats with Rithaldis' Diet are able to consume or absorb radiant energy as sustenance, to heal or to replenish their magic energy. This includes strong sunlight, ionizing radiation and solar plasma, whether natural or magical! Rithaldis' Charge Those with Rithaldis' Charge can store up radiant energy inside their body without limit and cannot be harmed by radiant energy. This includes strong sunlight, ionizing radiation and solar plasma, natural or magical. They can convert this to magic energy, transfer the energy to another or re-release it like an Aura at will. Second Ability Aasaru's Fertility Thanks to Aasaru's Fertility, Khisbat Palms are able to increase the fertility of all desert and tundra plants as well as aid in the healthy development of and growth of these organism. They can increase the success of seeds and help plants thrive in otherwise doslate locations, increasing their vivacity, resiliency and overall health.

Anatomy

Khisbat tower over the desert, their pinnate leaves long with spines, comprised of around 150 leaflets. Even these leaflets are a foot long each and an inch wide. The dates themselves are oval and cylindrical, 3-7 cm long and containing a single stone pit. These dates also have a leathery outer shell with dull and short cacti spines. Original Ancestor Lifespan Expectancy Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm Perennial 100 years Height Leaves Crown 100 ft 30 m 13-20 ft 4-6 m 20-33 ft 6-19 m Coloration Its kaithur has turned their leaves stark white alongside the pulp of their fruit. The dates themselves have gained hard but short and dull cacti spines enveloping the fruit thanks to Aasaru's influence.

Habitat

Desert Semi-Desert Shrubland Coastal Urban Rural Khisbat palms need well-draining, deep sandy or loamy soil. An ubiquitous desert species, these palms' range spans the Arabiyyan and Shamsi Deserts, Parsa, Kemet, Kna'an, Birit Narim, Balkurtiz, Flumen Pontem and Sesli Plato. Supposedly there is an icy variant in the Frozen Wastes and some might be seen growing along the edges of Kasar Wuta or the coasts of Gaarreen Ho'aa.

Life Cycle

Angiosperm Asexual Cloning Flowering Dioecious Drupe The khisbat palm has separate male and female trees, easily grown from seed or cutting. Though palms grown from cuttings will fruit two or three years faster. Only the females are fruit bearing and only half of seedlings are female. While they are naturally pollinated by wind, most oases horticulturists will hand pollinate their palms. One male can pollinate up to 100 females and male flowers can be found in desert markets around pollination time. Khisbat grow singly or form into a clump with several stems and a single root system. While they are slow growing, they can live for up to 100 years. Famed for their fertility amid desolate sands, mature khisbat palm trees can produce 150 - 300 lbs (70 - 140 kg) of dates per season!

Domestication

Khisbat dates are a traditional crop, their cultivation stretching back to thousands of years before even the Birth of the Erlithmanil, far back enough that no one is sure when it began. This cultivation has only grown more common thanks to its kaithur, revered by most all desert dwelling peoples including the Imaziɣen, Arabiyy, Yehudim and Masriyyin. Outside of Alkelbulan, khisbat remains a respected and beloved feature in the gardens of the Quiris of Flumen Pontem and its fruit a maintstay in their pantries. Khisbat dates are even known to be a favored treat to both Ilnid and Aasaru. After removing the spiny shell, dry and soft dates are eaten as is or pitted and stuffed with fillings. Partially dried dates may be glazed with syrup as a snack food or chopped into cubes to be used in a variety of sweet dishes. A local ingredient called 'ajwa is a paste made from khisbat dates while khisbat honey is called dibs. In fact a variety of ingredients can be made from khisbat palms including sugar, vinegar or alcohol and it is traditional to break fasts with a date. Even the seeds are soaked and ground into a flour for animal feed or be ground into and mixed with coffee beans! Meanshile their spiky shell is generally discarded or buried in gardens or fields, boosting the fertility of desert plants in the process. Outside of food, date oils are suitable for cosmetics. There are lotions and salves woman use when trying to become pregnant, believing the fruit may boost their own fertility. Khisbat leaves are used in making hats, mats, screens and baskets while dried leaf petioles are useful as a pulp for walking sticks, brooms and fishing floats. Leaf sheaths are valued for their smell while their fiber is useful for rope, cloth and hats. Quiris peoples use these palm fronds in triumphal processions to symbolize victory, growing this palm in their gardens and forums even if it won't bear fruit in their climate. Khisbat is generally associated with victory, prosperity and fertility. It is one of seven revered plants of the Yehudim people, used in many traditions. Because of it's association with fertility, its seeds are often carried or worn by pregnant woman or those trying to become pregnant. Dates are even eaten during childbirth as a superstition.