This design is the livery of the heir of Elendil, which is recognizable by a flowering White Tree with seven stars above the branches. There is also a crown above the tree, but this design is not shown in the films. It is likely not shown because the crown in the livery design is not used again until after Aragorn rules as King of Gondor, after the events of The Lord of the Rings.
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From the information presented in the film, there is a clear association between Aragorn, his ancestors, and the White Tree. But why did the heirs of Elendil adopt the White Tree for their sigil in the first place? The answer lies far to the West of Middle Earth, with two lands on the western side of the sea. To tell the story of the White Tree we begin at the city of Tirion in Aman. Here live two different sects of elves called the Vanyar and the Noldor, who loved Telperion, one of two of the eldest trees in history, more than anything in the world, save the stars.
Then Yavanna (a goddess who cares for the flora and fauna) made the Vanyar and the Noldor a tree. This tree was like Telperion in all attributes (except it did not produce its own light) and was called Galathilion. This tree is the beginning of the long lineage that spans from Galathilion to the White Tree of Númenor.
From Galathilion came many seedlings, including Celeborn (Tree of Silver) which was planted in Tol Eressëa. Tol Eressëa is an island off the shores of Aman also known as the Lonely Isle. Nimloth (a.k.a. Nimloth the Fair, White Blossom) is one of Celeborn’s seedlings, which made its way to Númenor with the elves from Tol Eressëa on their ships. The elves from Tol Eressëa brought Nimloth as a gift for the Númenorians, which was then planted in the courts of the King in Armenelos. Many years pass in Númenor, onto the ruling of Ar-Pharazôn, the last King of Númenor.
To understand what happens next, it’s important to know that this is a dark time in Númenor’s history. Sauron has convinced many Númenorians to worship Melkor, a god of discord and darkness, who also happens to be responsible for all evil in Middle Earth. Sauron, who is a servant of Melkor, convinces the King of Númenor to show their devotion to Melkor by cutting down Nimloth, as it shows a bond between Númenor and the Eldar. At first, the King refuses, but it is only a matter of time before he succumbs to Sauron’s will.
Fortunately, there are some in Númenor who remain loyal to the Eldar. Among these numbers include an advisor to the King, Amandil, his son, Elendil, and Elendil’s sons, among whom Isildur is included. Fortunately, upon hearing about the King’s plan to cut down Nimloth, Isildur manages to sneak into the courts in Armenelos and steal fruit from Nimloth before it is destroyed.
This act, along with fleeing Númenor, has made its way into the songs and legends of Middle Earth, as shown in The Return of the King (book, not film), where Gandalf quotes “Tall ships and tall kings, three times three, what brought they from the foundered land over the flowing sea? Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree.
This passage shows how the faithful Númenorians escaped on nine ships before Ilúvatar remade the world and Númenor was swallowed by the sea. Elendil, Isildur’s father, bore the seedling of Nimloth on his ship. Later, Isildur planted this seedling at Minas Ithil. It is at this point in the story we reach a hiccup, for readers of The Lord of the Rings may not know Minas Ithil as Minas Ithil. They will know it as Minas Morgul, for Sauron, when invading Gondor, took over the city and burned the White Tree.
However, once again, Isildur escapes with a seedling, which is the seedling that will become the White Tree of Númenor. Isildur plants this seedling in the city of Minas Anor, which is more famously known by its later name, Minas Tirith. Here, it remains, even after its death, until Aragorn claims the throne of Gondor and plants a white seedling of his own.
The White Tree of Númenor and its ancestors Galathilion, Celeborn, and Nimloth are central figures throughout the history of Middle Earth and Númenor. The White Trees represent the close ties between the Faithful in Númenor and their ancestors with elves and the Eldar. It is also a symbol for honorable Men in Middle Earth and pays homages to Elendil and his heirs and their ongoing role in the protection and stewardship of the White Trees.
