Parliament of Trees

Parliament of Trees
File:PoT.JPG Cover to Swamp Thing #47.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #47 (April 1986)
Created by	Alan Moore and Stan Woch
In-story information
Base(s)	Brazil, South America
Member(s)	Bog Venus Eyam Ghost Hiding in the Rushes Great Url Jack in the Green Lady Jane Swamp Knucker Swamp Thing I & II

The Parliament of Trees is a fictional group of mystical trees, first appearing in Swamp Thing Vol. 2, #47. It is owned by DC Comics/Vertigo.

Fictional history

Plant Elementals have existed on Earth long before humans. Born when an animal died in flames and merged with the Earth, the Elementals became protectors of plant life throughout history. When they had done their time, they would join the Parliament of Trees, a group mind of former Elementals. Over time the membership grew with beings such as Eyam (based on the form of a trilobite), Swamp Knucker (a dinosaur-liks dragon [a knucker is a dragon in British lore]), Bog Venus (patterned on the mind of a medicine woman), Ghost Hiding In The Rushes (a sorcerer of 3rd century China), Swamp Thing I (an early 20th century scientist), and many others. Until recently, the Parliament was stationed in a grove in Brazil, south of the river Tefé, while their minds dwelled in the realm of the Green. Although preaching peace, the Parliament was involved in several conflicts in the past. Once united with the Parliament of Stones, the Parliament separated from the other to set in motion an elaborate plot to someday destroy mankind. The Parliament also had to fight off the fungus-based Grey, invaders from another world that eventually became the mushroom life of this planet. Quite recently, it was revealed that the Parliament of Trees (and other Elemental Parliaments) had an agenda with Swamp Thing that included the destruction of mankind and the re-making of Earth. To prevent that from happening, the Heavenly power called The Word destroyed the Parliament, but not until they had passed on all their power to the Swamp Thing, who would do their bidding. But Swamp Thing refused in the last second, giving humanity another chance. The Parliament of Trees is now eternally burning in the realm of the Green. A few of its former members have survived since they were not present during the massacre at the hands of The Word.

The Green

The Green is a mystical realm inhabited by the minds of all members of the Parliament of Trees. It also connects all forms of botanical life on earth. Various plant elementals of the DCU have been known to communicate with the Green as well and appear to have an in-tune rapport with it. These select few include the following:

• Black Orchid (Flora Black and Suzy)
• Hyathis (ruler of the planet Alstair)
• Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley)
• Swamp Thing II (Alec Holland)

Another, the Floronic Man, went insane after attempting to connect with the Green through Swamp Thing.

External Links

• Roots of the Swamp Thing - An extremely detailed timeline chronicling all the events of Swamp Thing, Hellblazer and related titles in chronological order, spanning millions of years of DC/Vertigo history and revealing the rise and fall of the Parliament of Trees