The Bent Trees of Ruby Sea

[Heliantheae]

So while travelling the Ruby Sea there are bent trees scattered about. Didn't think too much of it, chalked it up to the fantasy part of Final Fantasy. But then I saw this video on strange places on earth and there was this forest of bent trees. Explained that people would manipulate the trunks when they're saplings so they'll grow that way to be used for boats later on. I thought that was a nice touch the level designers threw in.

[Enkidoh]

That's not the only place that has bent trees - in my home country of Australia there is a place called Greenough that famously has bent trees that were caused by consistently strong ocean winds blowing that permanently bent them to that shape (to the point they're almost horizontal). Hence the ones in FFXIV I immediately picked up on because of the above - and yes, I agree it was a nice little point of interest in the environmental design in the game.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

Those trees that bend over? They grow like that. It's a type of pine tree. You'll see them everywhere if you are in Japan. When they first start growing, their trunks are soft, but with the way the wind blows, they will grow in a 'bent' direction. It's quite normal. Plus there are different conifers in Japan that will arch with how they grow. This is normal, so don't worry about it.