Iifa Tree (Final Fantasy IX)

The Iifa Tree (イーファの樹 Īfa no ki lit. Tree of Eva), read as iifa Tree and sometimes mistaken as the Lifa tree, was planted long ago by Garland as a gigantic soul filter, filtering the souls of Gaia.

The dwarves of Conde Petie refer to the Iifa Tree as the Sanctuary, because after going through a ceremony, not unlike being married, the happy couple journeys to the Iifa Tree to inscribe their names.

Nature
According to the Final Fantasy IX Ultimania what is seen above the surface is not the true Iifa Tree, but just part of the tree's roots. The true part of the tree resides underground and reaches all the way to the planet's core, while its roots zigzag around the world just beneath the surface.

History
The Iifa Tree originates from Terra, and is over 5,000 years old. It was transplanted to Gaia by Garland after the Terrans' failed attempt at fusing the two planets into one. As a result of the failed fusion, Gaia's landscape was left in ruin, and in order to oversee the world's recovery, Garland moved Terra's magical tree Iifa to Gaia. Garland could use the Iifa Tree's roots to stabilize the environment, but it still took thousands of years for the planet to recover from the disaster.

Around 3,000 years before the game's start, Garland used the Iifa Tree to block Gaian souls from returning to their crystal in the planet core, halting the planet's soul cycle. Garland's plan was to only allow Terra's souls to cycle. Around 1,800 years before the game's start, Garland built the Soul Divider at the tree's base to replace the rejected Gaian souls with Terran ones so that the Terran civilization might one day be revived. The mist that covers the Mist Continent is a by-product of the filtering process, and is expelled from the tree to the Mist Continent through the tree-roots.

Soul Divider's Destruction
Zidane and his friends are lead to the Iifa Tree by Eiko in order to find Kuja. Eiko dispels the barrier surrounding the tree created by Carbuncle, and the entire group proceeds to enter the Tree's trunk through a maze of roots. They find a platform which allows for descent into Iifa's depths, where the mist breeds powerful monsters and the interior of the tree glows a blinding green. After riding a leaf-like protrusion even farther down the tree, Zidane, Garnet, Vivi, and Eiko marvel at the seemingly endless green pools below the harp-like structure of Iifa's base.

After Zidane examines the area with more scrutiny, the Iifa Tree begins to shake, and SoulCage, the Soul Divider, challenges the party. Despite SoulCage's assurances of his own victory, he is defeated, and his demise triggers the disappearance of mist from the Mist Continent. However, even with SoulCage gone, the tree still blocks the Gaian souls from returning to their crystal.

Shortly after, the area surrounding the Iifa Tree is the stage of a battle between Alexandria's army and Kuja. The battle ends with Kuja taking control of Bahamut and the Alexandrian forces being destroyed by the Dragon King.

Terra's Destruction and the Iifa Tree
After Terra's destruction, the Iifa Tree activates and expels enormous amounts of mist all across the planet and its roots protrude everywhere, cutting off several locations to the player such as the North and South Gates, Esto Gaza, Observatory Mountain, Oeilvert, Pinnacle Rocks, Fossil Roo, Ice Cavern and the Desert Palace. The portal to the game's penultimate dungeon, Memoria, can be found hovering above the Iifa Tree. A battle ensues with a swarm of Silver Dragons when the Invincible attempts to enter the portal and the party fights a Nova Dragon.

After the party has defeated Trance Kuja inside Memoria and Necron in Hill of Despair, Kuja teleports the party outside of the Iifa Tree with his magic. While the rest of the party depart, Zidane stays behind to look for Kuja. The Iifa Tree, however, is writhing and flailing furiously, and after Zidane finally manages to find Kuja, the Iifa Tree collapses upon itself, and presumably dies.

Treasure

 * Hi-Potion
 * Ether
 * Elixir
 * Phoenix Down
 * Remedy
 * Lamia's Flute
 * Healing Rod
 * Brigandine
 * Ruby (obtained automatically on entry)
 * Aquamarine (obtained automatically during the battle with Kuja)

On the roots

 * Stroper
 * Zombie X3
 * Myconid X2

Inside the tree

 * Dracozombie
 * Stroper
 * Soulcage (Boss)

Battle with Kuja

 * Mistodon
 * Mistodon X2

Surrounding Area

 * Nymph (Friendly)

Musical Themes
The theme of the Iifa Tree is called "Iifa Tree".

Trivia

 * The Iifa Tree is referenced in Dissidia Final Fantasy as a trade accessory. It may also be referenced during the ending sequence, when Zidane flips from a tree and disappears, although this is probably a reference to Zidane's monkey-like tail and his agile abilities.
 * The theme song for the Iifa Tree on Final Fantasy IX is based on the moon's theme from Final Fantasy IV.
 * The Iifa Tree is also where the Eidolon Leviathan is found.
 * It is only when Zidane stands on the lift devices that they activate, this is demonstrated when Eiko fails to move the lift alone. This may be because both the Iifa Tree and Zidane are from Terra therefore somewhat connected.