Things of Middle-earth
Meaning: White Blossom
Other Names: The White Tree, Nimloth the Fair, Galathilion, Celeborn
Description:The White Tree of Númenor, given as a gift by the Eldar of Tol Eressëa to Aldarion upon his wedding to Erendis. The White Tree has snow-white bark, and puts forth "cool leaves in summer, and flowers in winter" (UT 189). When the Númenoreans began to turn toward the Shadow and the Faithful were persecuted, the White Tree was neglected. Tar-Palantír, who once again tended the Tree and honored it, prophesized that when the Tree died, the line of Kings would fail.
When Sauron, who came as a prisoner to Númenor, gained the confidence of Ar-Pharazôn, he urged the King to cut down the Tree. Before this could happen, Isildur son of Elendil, went in secret to the court of the Tree and managed to procure a fruit of Nimloth, though he was injured during his escape. Nimloth was hewn down not long after and was the first burnt offering upon the altar of the temple Sauron raised to Morgoth in Armenelos; men "marveled at the reek that went up from it, so that the land lay under a cloud for seven days, until slowly it passed into the west" (Sil 338).
The fruit of Nimloth was taken to Middle Earth and planted in the court of Minas Ithil.
Sources: "Aldarion and Erendis" from Unfinished Tales and "Akallabêth" from The Silmarillion.
"Yavanna made for them a tree like to a lesser image of Telperion, save that it did not give light of its own being; Galathilion it was named in the Sindarin tongue. This tree was planted in the courts beneath the Mindon and there flourished, and its seedlings were many in Eldamar. Of these one was afterwards planted in Tol Eressëa, and it prospered there, and was named Celeborn; thence came in the fullness of time as is elsewhere told, Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor."
The Silmarillion, Ch 5, Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië
Contributors: Zimraphel. 7/6/2003, Lyllyn 8/19/03.