Piranah Plants

[Yoshi Master]

Talk about all the differnt breeds and types. Have they always been in Mario's universe? Could they be an epidemic?

[Kamikaze Koopa]

I've never seen any evidence that would suggest that they havn't always been there. As for being an epidemic, I have no idea. I mean, they are plants, so it seems like they would pollinate other areas like plants do. In terms of being an epidemic, the question you have to ask is: Do they have any natural predators to keep their population in check? The only thing I've seen that can do damage to a piranha plant (besides ballistic attacks) is fire. So perhpas fireflowers somehow manage to control the piranha's growth?

[Claws]

Since we haven't seen any evidence that the piranah plants are out of control, I'd say they're a stable part of the ecosystem. Maybe they have really short lifespans since they have a lack of predators.

[Kamikaze Koopa]

It would seem so. One thing I'm curious about is how they manage to change size so quickly (ala SMW2). I'm thinking that maybe they have resevoirs of fluid kept in their roots, and when the time comes fir them to attack, they inflate themselves with this fluid. I'm also curious about their relationship with the sludge from Mario Sunshine.

[Claws]

Maybe the sludge just imitates the piranah plants.

[Kamikaze Koopa]

You think so? Hmmm, I suppose that would make sense.

Speaking of the sludge, I'm gonna make a new thread about it, because that stuff is just weird.

[Toomai]

And how do they travel underground instantly, like in the Paper Mario games? Maybe there's an enormous root system that they cable-car along?

[Kamikaze Koopa]

Do they actually travel around or are there just multiple plants in the area?

[Claws]

In the Paper Mario games it seems that they are able to tunnel around instantly. Perhaps they are able to dig quickly (maybe the strong jaws and sharp teeth aid in this ability).

[Kamikaze Koopa]

Hmmm. Perhaps they're actually one single plant which has multiple "flowering" stems in multiple areas? *shrug* I dunno.

[Yoshi Master]

Or they have very long roots that helps them pull themselves underground.

And uh, do the pirannah plants from Yoshi's Island inflate themselves when in danger or what?

[Kamikaze Koopa]

They seem to do so, yes.

[Claws]

Question: how to the piranah plants from SMB3 spit fireballs?

[Yoshi Master]

Fire resistant spit to protect the mouth and glands that spit out chemicals ( in small amounts ) to make fire.

[Claws]

Or maybe their mouths are extremely tough. But still, how would they spit out balls of fire? I'm thinking that they spit out round chunks of something that are on fire.

[Kamikaze Koopa]

Perhaps some sort of flammable mucus?

[Claws]

Good idea. They probably draw the mucus from their stems, somehow ignite it inside their mouth, and then spit it out.

[Yoshi Master]

The chemicals are some kinda gel that gets spit out ball shaped.

[Kamikaze Koopa]

Perhaps they're the Piranha Plant's seeds? That could be how they pollinate; they spit their flaming seeds at nearby predators, the seeds make contact and stick to the target causing them to retreat in pain. Eventually, the target either dies from the exposure to the flame or the seed just falls off, and the seed has been transported to a new area and is ready to sprout.

[Claws]

That's the best explanation for it I've heard. We'll go with that one.

Now, how far down the warp pipe does the piranah plant go, and how do they sustain themselves? Where do their roots go?