The star-and-moon bodhi is the seed of a palm and takes its name from the marking on each one: one larger pale patch and a scatter of small dark dots, read as a moon and stars. No two seeds carry the same pattern.
The seeds are drilled and strung by hand, and because they are a natural material they change with use — handling brings up a sheen that collectors call patina, and the seeds darken gradually. The 108 count plus a guru bead is the standard mala configuration.