The muell tree

The tree is the most complicated to study, understand and to grow outside of Attland. The muell, or pastel tree, however, is different from all other trees in that most of the tree parts are edible, it produces four types of juices, teas, coffee, fragrance, and pastel paint. The tree can be called the tree of life.

Below the following is discussed:

• the unique similarities to other plants
• unique characteristics
• morphology
• distribution
  
• growth
• life cycle
• cultivation

unique similarities to other plants:

Adding to the complicated nature of the tree is its similarities to others trees and plants:

• the first (reproductive) flowers produce long, pine-cone shaped ear of seeds, which is covered by flower sepals, resembling an ear of corn on the stalk.
  
• bright yellow or orange seeds located at the base of the seed cone resemble yellow kernels of corn, the seeds contained towards the tip of the cone resemble pine nuts and wheat kernels.
• sepals from the first flowers can be eaten raw and taste like cooked artichoke.
  
• Muell tree leaves resemble large grape leaves during the first 5-7 years of the tree's life, and then start to resemble mulberry leaves, except they are larger and succulent.
• the tree trunk of a mature, pruned tree resembles an African baobab.
  
• The first (reproductive) flowers resemble lilies.
• The fruit flowers of the tree resemble roses, and sometimes asters.
• The fruit flower soon produces a banana-looking drupe, which is always yellow (if the flower was yellow, white, or any pastel color, which is the origin for the names of the colors), or orange (if the flower was red or blue.)
• The banana-drupe ripens to yield a sweet, semi-succulent flour mass, which can be eaten raw or baked into semi-sweet bread.
• The tree seedlings look like fescue grass.
• The bark of the tree resembles that of a pine, but is actually thicker and solid.
• The tree sap tastes like birch sap or mild lemonade (for 3 to 5 year old trees), or citrus (5-10 year old trees) or muscat grape juice for older trees.
• The first and fruit flower pollen is easily smudged, resembles a rose pollen, varying in color from tree to tree, and can be used as a pale pastel paint.
• the first flower smells like a lily of the valley, or tulip; the fruit flower smells like a lilac.
• The fruit flower pollen resembles a saffron spice, similar in taste and color, if the flower is orange.
• if not harvested, the leaves ripen to their most edible state and turn yellow, the color lasting for up to 6 months, the leaves never shed, and turn green again when all first flowers on the branch started to produce seed cones and branch extensions.
• the tree roots can be cooked and eaten, tasting like a delicious potato or Jerusalem artichoke
  

unique characteristics:

• muell tree produces no growth rings.
  
• muell tree first flower needs primarily hummingbirds to pollinate, due to the unique structure of a first flower; fruit flowers require any pollinator.
• the seeds (produced by the first flowers only) can be eaten raw, just like nuts, cooked, or pressed into oil.
  
• Male and female trees look almost identical, except male trees tend to be smaller than female trees, produce more first flowers, less fruit flowers, hence less fruit
  
• Muell trees are dioecious, and both produce pollen, though only the male pollen can pollinate, and the female pollen is required to signal male trees to increase pollen production.
• First flower produces pollen and seed, but not fruit;
• Fruit flower produces pollen and fruit, but no seed.
• First flower has sepals, which are absent in fruit flowers.
  
• A muell tree continuously produces first and fruit flowers according to the cycle of their tree branch.
• There is only one specie of the muell tree, without any other variants or cultivars that can be successfully developed.
• The seedling grass can be pollinated either by other seedlings, or by pollen from first flowers of mature female and male trees.
  
• Mature muell tree needs to pollinate its first flowers, if not pollinated, the tree will not produce new branches or leaves, but will produce one more year of fruit flowers and fruits.
• If pollinated at its first flowering, while fruit flowers are pruned or not pollinated, the tree will not produce fruit, but will continue to grow and produce in other aspects.
  
• Seedling grass can be source of nutrition for small livestock, or as a salad green.
• If both first and fruit flowers are pruned or not pollinated, the tree will stimulate a part of its root to grow a sapling, which will mature sooner than a seedling, usually in 2-3 years, and bear fruit in its 4th year.
  
• Tree bark can be used as a coffee substitute, being the closest coffee-tasting of all substitutes.
  
• The first flowers produce edible petals that taste sweet, can be eaten raw, or brewed to make naturally semisweet teas.
• The fruit flower petals are not edible raw, but are used as a spice.
• The first flower pollen cannot perform the function of the fruit flower pollen, and vice versa.
  
• There is no relationship between the petal color or pollen color of the first flower and the fruit flower on the same tree.
• The color of flowers is defined by pollination, and is still unknown if affected by the color of the pollinating tree's genetics.
• all of the flowers' pollen is non-allergenic, being a smooth, soft structure
• the tree has no destructive enemies, since no insects are known to eat any part of the tree
• the tree roots are considerably thin and strong, capable of enveloping rocks within soil, but not exerting upward pressure, or otherwise destructive, which makes them ideal for growing near paved areas.
• the tree can live up to 100 years in low, hot, coastal areas, and to 400-600 years in higher, cool elevations.
• the tree can yield 4 different juices: tree sap, leaf juice, first flower petal juice and fruit juice
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Morphology

A muell tree is monocot and is closely related to grass, palm trees, lilies, irises and orchids. Three tree reproduces by producing firestflowers, which, after pollination, develop a seed cone.

The trunk produces flowers and fruits from woody stems (flowers are produced from tissues or buds to the inside of the bark and then subsequently emerge through it). This condition is known as cauliflorous (this is also found in Cercis canadensis, eastern redbud).