This Overlooked Piece of Star Wars Lore Secretly Connected The Last Jedi to The Clone Wars & Rogue One

by

Apart from a quick scene at the end of the previous movie, “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi,” introduced Ahch-To, a secluded planet believed to be where the ancient Jedi Order originated. One distinctive aspect of this planet was a colossal dead tree trunk that housed a library containing sacred Jedi texts. In a surprising turn of events, Yoda’s Force spirit destroyed the tree and its contents by calling down a bolt of lightning from the heavens. He felt that Rey would benefit more from hands-on learning rather than relying on “a stack of old books.” Although not explicitly named in the film, it was later revealed in “The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary” that this tree was actually the remains of a unique species called an uneti tree.

Uneti trees had a profound connection to the Force. Unlike beings, they weren’t sentient and couldn’t manipulate the Force, but their presence helped Jedi maintain focus. Jedi brewed calming tea and incense from uneti tree flowers, and the wood was used to make paper for some of the revered Jedi texts. The folklore surrounding uneti trees wasn’t exclusive to “The Last Jedi” and its supplementary content. In fact, these Force-sensitive plants were later incorporated into earlier “Star Wars” projects such as the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and the film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”.

The Uneti Tree First Appeared 4 Years Before The Last Jedi

In the fifth and sixth seasons of The Clone Wars, a modest unteti tree in the yard of the Jedi Grand Temple on Coruscant was occasionally featured. This tree, known as the Great Tree, served as a tranquil spot where Jedi would often meditate. As depicted in Karen Strong’s short story “A Jedi’s Duty”, this tree held significance, even attracting Emperor Palpatine’s disfavor. He ultimately destroyed it when he seized power. However, Palpatine preserved some fragments of the Great Tree in stasis, allowing his scientists to examine its distinctive Force characteristics.

In the graphic novel series titled “Star Wars: Shattered Empire,” following the conclusion of “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi,” Luke obtained fragments from the Great Tree and utilized them to cultivate fresh uneti trees. One of these seedlings was bestowed upon Shara, who subsequently planted it on Yavin 4. Since Shara was Poe Dameron’s mother from the sequel saga, he lived near this young uneti tree as it grew. This may have served as a hint of his future role in assisting the Jedi as part of the Resistance, foreshadowing his eventual destiny.

An Item From Rogue One Was Connected to Uneti Trees

In the Star Wars universe, it wasn’t just the Jedi who held uneti trees in high regard. As revealed on the official Star Wars website, Chirrut Imwe’s staff was crafted from flame-hardened uneti wood. Unlike other characters, Chirrut had a deep connection with the Force; he trusted it implicitly and, during crucial scenes in Rogue One, the Force flowed through him. For instance, he managed to traverse an active battlefield without getting hit by any errant blaster bolts. It’s plausible that having a piece of uneti wood helped Chirrut subtly amplify his connection with the Force.

In the Star Wars universe, the concept of Force-sensitive plants was expanded upon in the Legends continuity. Notably, the Tales of the Jedi comic book series introduced a sentient, shape-shifting plant species called Neti, possibly named after the uneti tree. These Neti beings were all sensitive to the Force and could become Jedi or Sith. Although they have been only briefly mentioned in canon, their details remain scarce. In Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, when Obi-Wan Kenobi explains the Force, he describes it as an energy field created by all living things, implying that not just people, but also animals and plants are part of the Force. It’s fitting, then, that trees have become so integral to the Jedi Order.

Read More

2025-07-07 01:24