Tojufu trees.
The Tojufu were a sentient tree species native to planet M-317.
Specifics[]
Tojufu were pleasantly fragrant with rich, palm-like leaves. Tree trunks were intricately woven, resembling the complex joined trunks of American banyan trees. They gave no obvious outward signs of having sentience.
The species was named after a mythical Earth heroine of Ophiucan fairy tales.
History[]
In 2267, a year after the M-317 outpost was established, outpost director Patrick Moore became intrigued by the planet's lifeforms. Moore and his assistant William Terrens cultivated some native plants, including several Tojufu cuttings, in a greenhouse. Terrens envisioned a lucrative business marketing and selling the fragrance, which could be harvested after pulping the trees. During his studies, however, Moore came to realize that the trees were capable of communications and thus were sentient.
In 2268, to keep their sentience a secret, Terrens murdered Moore. After realizing the truth, James T. Kirk was able to expose the killer at the Interstellar Geophysical Conference on Beta Aurigae III. The Tojufu were subsequently protected by the Prime Directive. (TOS comic: "Murder on the Enterprise")