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.
Racial Magic
First Ability
☀️Rithaldis' Diet
Able to consume or absorb radiant energy as sustenance, to heal or to replenish their magic energy.
☀️Rithaldis' Charge
Can store up radiant energy inside their body without limit and cannot be harmed by radiant energy. They can convert this to energy, transfer the energy to another or re-release it like an aura at will.
Second Ability
Aasaru's Fertility
Able to increase the fertility of all desert and tundra plants and aid in the healthy development of and birth of the organism. They can increase the success of seeds and help plants thrive in otherwise doslate locations, increasing the vivacity, resiliency and overall health.
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 these seeds fall or take root desert plantlife will blossom and thrive thanks to Aasaru's Fertility. Many oases spring to life around these bountiful trees. This is why it has become a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
Basic Information
Anatomy
by Lee Stepp
Khisbat alnakhla can reach up to 30 m high (100 ft). Their leaves are 4-6 m (13-20 ft) long with spines and pinnate with around 150 leaflets. These leaflets are 30 cm (12 in) long and an inch wide. The full crown reaches from 6 - 10 m (20-33 ft). The dates themselves are oval and cylindrical, 3-7 cm long and containing a single stone of 2-2.5 cm long. These dates also have an outer shell with dull and short cacti spines and it's pulp is white.
Original Ancestor
Date Palm
Lifespan
Coloration
Genetics and Reproduction
The khisbat palm has separate male and female trees, easily grown from seed. Only the females are fruit bearing and only half of seedlings are female. Palms grown from cuttings will fruit two or three years faster than seedlings. 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. They grow singly or form into a clump with several stems and a single root system. They are slow growing but can live up to 100 years. They can take 4 to 8 years to bear fruit. Mature khisbat palm trees can produce 70 - 140 kg (150 - 300 lbs) of dates per harvest season.
Ecology and Habitats
Khisbat palms need well-draining, deep sandy loam soil with alkaline pH. The soil needs to be able to hold moisture and be free of calcium carbonate. These palms can be found in both the Arabiyyan Desert and Shamsi Desert, Arya, Kemet, Kna'an, Dawn Ahrayn, 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 coasts of Gaarreen Ho'aa.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
by Lee Stepp
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 racial magic. It is especially revered by the Arabiyy, Yehudim, Imaziɣen and Masryeen and is known to be a favored treat to Ilnid and Aasaru. Even the Quiris of Flumen Pontem enjoy planting them in their gardens and trading for its fruit.
After removing the spiny shell, dry and soft dates are eaten as is or pitted and stuffed with various fillings. Partially dried dates may be glazed with syrup as a snack food. They can also be chopped and used in a variety of sweet dishes. They can be processed into cubes or a paste called 'ajwa or into a honey called dibs. It can even be made into a 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. The seeds can also be ground and used like coffee or mixed with coffee beans. Its shell is generally discarded or buried in gardens or fields, boosting the fertility of desert plants.
by Lee Stepp
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. 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 and enjoy growing this palm in their gardens, even if it won't bear fruit in their climate. It 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. It is even eaten during childbirth as a superstition.
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