vaulī tree (/ˈvaʊliː/)

The vaulī tree is one of several species of plant unique to the Kida Votoshī oasis. While the waxy sap of the tree is essential to the production of aikital cloth as produced in the Principality of Rotai, the administrators of Kida Votashī are careful to ensure that, except for necessary harvesting, the oasis remains as natural as possible. The tree has a broad trunk with a smooth, dark green bark. Branches begin at about three-quarters of the total height of the tree, radiating out horizontally from a central boll. The spread of these primary branches fills an approximate circle with a diameter equal to about their height from the ground. Vertical secondary branches branch from the horizontal primary branches along the length of the primary. The secondary branches have tertiary branches from which the heart-shaped leaves grow. The yellow-green leaves average around 25cm across and 30cm long. In the early summer, bright yellow and red flowers sprout from nodules along the bottoms of the primary branches, putting on a show for only a few days. After these seed pods rapidly grow to a full size of up to 40cm long and about 1cm in diameter. They then start drying. In late summer or early fall, just before the leaves begin to turn, the seed pods split open, dropping long thin seeds with two thin wings to distribute them from the tree. After the seed pods drop, the leaves begin to turn to a dark red color. At this time the sap of the tree is "ripe" and carefully harvested. The leaves and empty seed pods drop a few weeks later.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The sap from the vaulī tree is harvested early in the fall, just after the leaves turn, through a religious ritual designed to ensure the sanctity of the sap, the tree, those performing the ritual, the eventual weavers of the aikital who use the sap, and the aikital itself. A small number of the seed pods of the plant are harvested in late summer, using a similar ritual, just before the pods begin to open. The almost-ripe seeds in the pods contain a mild hallucinogen. The seeds, called yiībokai or vision seeds, are carefully prepared for consumption by the weavers as they perform the final preparation of the sap and its application to the aikital. The Rotai weavers insist that the drug helps guide them in the correct application of the sap preparation.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Restricted exclusively to the Kida Votoshī oasis. While attempts have been made to grow the tree in other locations, those attempts have always failed.

Conservation Status

Protected by Kida Votoshī Administrators

Average Height

8–12 m

Geographic Distribution