Lean, Green, and Making the Scene(ry) - TT's Top 50 Plants

[Johnny Unusual]

Man, I've been busy with list prep and a new Thunderdome and school and work but I am loving this list so much. Also, Venus Flytraps are amazing.

Got to see the sakura when I was in Japan. But frankly, I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have because before you knew it, they were done doing their thing.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Going back a couple of entries.

In the modern day we have thousands of varieties of potatoes, which are used worldwide in dishes such as {deep breath}: [...] baked potatoes

The dish so nice sometimes people do it twice. (Kirin forgot to mention potato skins but I'll cut him some slack since he died.)

In addition to all of the other things Kirin mentioned potatoes are also used for their starch.

And they can be used as batteries.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

 

[Kirin]

#1
Piranha Plant​

Species: Piranhacus canalis
Habitat: Pipes of the Mushroom Kingdom and other worlds
AKA: Pakkun Flower

Points: 218, Votes: 9, Highest: Lokii

And Talking Time's number one plant is... still Audrey II basically. Gotta love a plant that wants to eat your face, apparently. Unlike the singular majesty of Audrey, though, the Piranha Plant represents a whole genus of enemies and characters that have come in many shapes and sizes over the years.

The canonical piranha plant inhabits warp pipes of the mushroom kingdom and act as a kind of hybrid between and enemy and a stage obstacle, turning what was a safe platform into a dangerous one. Their behavior is surprisingly nuances for the time of their first appearance (in 1985) in that they will only emerge if a player character is not currently standing within one space of their lair. Their sharp teeth prevent them from being stepped on, and initially they could only be defeated by fire or starman-power.

Piranha plants later developed in many directions, including ones that shoot back their own fireballs (the Venus Fire Trap), ones the grow to huge size (Piranhacus giganticus), ones that blow spiked balls (Ptooie), small (perhaps juvenile) mobile versions like Nippers and Munchers, ones that lift off from their pipes by spinning leaves like a helicopter (Jumping Piranha), ones with thorns (Spiny and Prickly Piranha), ones that float on water (River Piranha), ones that are strangely skeletal (Bone Piranha), ones that can stretch their stem (Piranha Creeper), ones that are toxic (Poison Piranha), ones that shoot their seeds as projectiles (Melon Piranha), and ones that can leaves their pipes and wander about (Trottin Piranha). In addition, a few notable piranha plants seem to have evolved more advanced sentience and mobility, including Petey Piranha and Dino Piranha.

Recently, a particularly versatile piranha plant took part in the Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament. It has the looks of a basic piranha but the capabilities of a great number of its sub-species. Piranha plants also appear frequently in a number of other game series like Mario Kart, Mario Party, Paper Mario, and so on. One even showed up as a doctor in Dr. Mario World. They also cameo in Link's Awakening, Animal Crossing, Sonic Lost World, Minecraft, and Lego City Undercover.

Anyway, enjoy a metric butt-load of piranha plants:

 

[Kirin]

And that's a wrap on the Top 50 Plants! Thanks to everyone who participated... and you! Hope y'all learned some things, I sure as heck did.

Here's a recap of everything that made the final list:

Piranha Plant	1
Cherry	2
Potato	3
Venus Flytrap	4
Redwood	5
Corpse Flower	6
Willow	7
Treebeard/Ents	8
Yggdrasil	9
Mint	10
Swamp Thing	11
Fire Flower	12
Mandrake	13
Shambling Mound	14
Maple	15
Groot	15
Pine	17
Cacao	18
Cannabis	19
Great Deku Tree	19
Cactuar	21
Corn	22
Tomato	23
Peanut	24
Pumpkin	25
Lilac	26
Sweet Potato	27
Rice	27
Mana Tree	29
Apple	30
Man Thing	30
Super Mushroom	32
Belladonna	33
Aloe Vera	34
Bulbasaur	35
Sunflower	36
Bean	37
Pikmin	38
Saguaro	38
Basil	38
Cinnamon	38
Toad (Mario)	38
Pecan	43
Pepper	43
Oak	45
Begonia	46
Blueberry	46
Soy	48
Dragons Blood Tree	49
Bamboo	50

 

[Kirin]

Annnnnd here's the entire spreadsheet (totally failing to wrangle the CODE tag into respecting tabs, sry)

Entry        rank    votes    points

Piranha Plant    1    9    218
Cherry            2    6    172
Potato            3    5    166
Venus Flytrap    4    7    147
Redwood        5    6    134
Corpse Flower    6    5    130
Willow        7    5    126
Treebeard/Ents    8    4    109
Yggdrasil    9    4    108
Mint        10    4    107
Swamp Thing    11    4    105
Fire Flower    12    4    102
Mandrake        13    5    100
Shambling Mound    14    3    95
Maple        15    4    91
Groot        15    3    91
Pine        17    4    85
Cacao        18    3    82
Cannabis        19    3    81
Great Deku Tree    19    3    81
Cactuar        21    3    76
Corn        22    4    74
Tomato        23    3    73
Peanut        24    3    72
Pumpkin        25    3    68
Lilac        26    2    66
Sweet Potato    27    2    62
Rice        27    2    62
Mana Tree    29    2    60
Apple        30    2    59
Man Thing    30    2    59
Super Mushroom    32    2    58
Belladonna    33    3    57
Aloe Vera    34    2    56
Bulbasaur    35    2    55
Sunflower    36    2    54
Bean        37    2    53
Pikmin        38    2    52
Saguaro        38    3    52
Basil        38    2    52
Cinnamon        38    2    52
Toad (Mario)    38    2    52
Pecan        43    2    50
Pepper        43    2    50
Oak        45    2    48
Begonia        46    2    47
Blueberry    46    2    47
Soy        48    2    46
Dragons Blood Tr    49    2    45
Bamboo        50    2    44
Daylily        51    2    43
Oddish        52    2    42
Ghost Plant    53    2    41
Blackberry    53    2    41
Rose        55    2    40
Lettuce        56    2    39
Hibiscus        57    2    36
Avern(BotNewSun)    58    1    35
Squash        58    1    35
Passion Fruit    58    1    35
Ninroot (Skyrim)    58    1    35
Lithops        62    1    34
Coconut Palm    62    2    34
Ellcrys(Shannara    62    1    34
Mushroom Ppl (DS    62    1    34
Green Algae    62    1    34
Peach        67    1    33
Arugula        67    1    33
Artichoke    67    1    33
Avodaco        67    1    33
White Tr Numenor    67    1    33
Shambling Shell    67    1    33
Sedum        67    1    33
Goomba        67    1    33
Elderberry    67    1    33
Pa'U Zotoh Zhaan    67    1    33
Wheat        67    1    33
Topiary Stomper    78    1    32
Pear        78    1    32
Stinkhorn    78    2    32
St:Tos Happy Flw    78    1    32
Hydnora        78    1    32
Clover        78    2    32
Watermelon    78    1    32
Priphea (Lufia)    85    1    31
Sensitive Plant    85    1    31
Guava        85    1    31
Penicillium    85    1    31
Kelp Giant    85    1    31
Carrot        90    1    30
Olive        90    1    30
Peony        90    1    30
HaworthiaCooperi    90    1    30
Flowey        90    1    30
Houseleek        1    29
Macadamia        1    29
Sage            1    29
Bonsai            1    29
Garlic            1    29
Raspberry        2    29
Tea            1    28
Almond            1    28
Albuca Concordiana    1    28
Grass Sword (Advtime)    1    28
Creepvines (Subnautica)    1    28
Baobab            2    28
Stary Cat (Jojo)        1    27
Nasturtium        1    27
Lavender            1    27
Malboro            1    27
Dandelion        2    27
Fly Agaric        1    26
Slime Mold        1    26
Coffee            1    26
Animal Crossing Flowers    1    26
Vegetable Lamb Of Tartary    1    26
Rubber Tree        1    25
Cucumber            1    25
Futsu Black Pumpkin    1    25
Dogwood            1    25
Osage Orange        1    25
Water Lily        1    25
Une/Thornweed        1    25
Euphorbia Obesa        1    24
Jonquil            1    24
Fir            1    24
Alraune (Castlevania)    1    24
Celery            1    24
Spore Spawn (Smetroid)    1    24
Eywa (Avatar)        1    24
Heart Shaped Herb    1    24
Rose Succulent        1    23
Penicillium (Cheese)    1    23
Brassica            1    23
Dryad            1    23
Poison Ivy        1    23
Sprigatito        1    23
Plum            1    23
Cosmos            1    22
Cactacae (Bas-Lag)    1    22
Body Snatchers        1    22
Grape            1    22
Cattail            1    22
Oregano            1    22
Bougainvillea        1    22
Leshy            1    22
Aspen            1    22
Pineapple        1    21
Deathcap Mushroom    1    21
Grapefruit        1    21
Petunia            1    21
Yeast            1    21
Vines From Tarzan    1    20
Western Underground Orchd    1    20
Bomb Flower        1    20
Oxalis Sourgrass        1    20
Honeysuckle        1    20
Lemon            1    20
Birch            1    20
Lotus            1    19
Bear'S Head Tooth    1    19
Clicker (Last Of Us)    1    19
Pea            1    19
Foxglove            1    19
Broccoli            1    19
Moss            1    18
Rashovnik        1    18
Burdock            1    18
Spider Lily        1    18
Onion            1    18
Mangrove            1    17
Bleeding Heart        1    17
Radish            1    17
Mycena Manipularis    1    17
Tumbleweed        1    16
Tree Fern        1    16
Chip'S Chlnge Plant Mnstr    1    16
Hydrangea        1    16
D&D Plants        1    16
Black Mercy        1    16
Asparagus        1    16
Joshua Tree        1    16
Wolfsbane        1    15
Plant 42 (Resident Evil)    1    15
Hemlock            1    15
Spinach            1    15
Eo 6Th Stratum Flower    1    14
Strawberry        1    14
Prickly Pear        1    14
Mahogany            1    14
Spiral Cactus        1    14
Yew            1    13
Gum Tree            1    13
Kite-Eating Tree        1    13
Monkey Puzzle Tree    1    12
Biolante            1    12
Cordyceps        1    12
Cola            1    11
Spaghetti Tree        1    11
Gravemind        1    11
Pitcher Plant        1    11

 

[Torzelbaum]

Thanks for running this, Kirin. It certainly was an interesting list.

Here are my picks:

1. potato (Solanum tuberosum) ✔
2. black pepper (Piper nigrum) ✔
3. wheat (Triticum)
4. cocoa plant (Theobroma cacao) ✔
5. Priphea flower from Lufia
6. corn (Zea mays) ✔
7. garlic (Allium sativum)
8. mint (Mentha) especially peppermint (Mentha × piperita) ✔
9. Super Mushroom from Super Mario ✔
10. peanut (Arachis hypogaea) ✔
11. rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
12. Cactuar from Final Fantasy ✔
13. wild "cabbage" (Brassica oleracea)
14. cattails (Typha)
15. baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
16. maple tree (Acer) especially sugar maple (Acer saccharum) ✔
17. lotus (Nelumbo)
18. onion (Allium cepa)
19. white clover (Trifolium repens)
20. tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ✔
21. Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) ✔
22. oak trees (Quercus) ✔
23. gum tree (Manilkara chicle)
24. dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
25. common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)

About half of my choices appeared on the Top 50 which isn't too bad (I guess).

I think I sort of cheated by including wild "cabbage" since the cultivars cover over 20 different "plants".

I included lotus because they have an interesting property of repelling water which was used as inspiration to create man made processes to mimic that property.

 

[Falselogic]

This was a fun list to watch. Thank you for running it, Kirin!

 

[Issun]

I had the Piranha Plant at #2. It's such a good video game doggo.

Thanks for running this very fun and educational list, Kirin! Sing us out, #1!

Spoiler: Super Mario Wonder Spoiler

 

[Issun]

My list (I'm assuming Kirin counted the Audrey vote towards Venus Flytrap and ignored the other or vice versa):

1. Lilac Bush (We had one in the backyard of the house where I grew up, so Lilac is the most nostalgic scent by far for me)
2. Piranha Plant (Mario)
3. Peach Tree
4. Cherry Tree
5. Guava Tree
6. Flowey (Undertale)
7. Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors)
8. Almond Tree
9. Lavender
10. Fire Flower (Mario)
11. Aloe
12. Spore Spawn (Super Metroid)
13. Tomato
14. Lettuce
15. Grapefruit
16. Lemon
17. Broccoli
18. Peanut
19. Blueberry
20. Raspberry
21. Blackberry
22. Strawberry
23. Rose
24. Hibiscus
25. Venus Flytrap

 

[Violentvixen]

This was a really fun one and I'm glad you got to run it, I feel like this has been on the potential list for a while and I was really curious to see how it went!

Squash
Corpse Flower
Arugula
Watermelon
Edamame
Carrots
Sage
Sunflowers
Cinnamon
Animal Crossing Flowers
Cucumber
Celery
Mint
Bougainvillea
Night Sky Petunias
Maples
Bamboo
Willow
Radishes
Shishito peppers
Dandelions
Piranha Plant (Mario)
Corn
Bristlecone Pine
Gravemind - Halo series

 

[Johnny Unusual]

This list was a lot of fun. Thanks so much for hosting, Kirin.

My list:

1. Man-Thing
2. Swamp Thing
3. Audrey II (put in there in case Kirin changed his mind)
4. Goomba -Love these little goons.
5. Groot
6. Super Mushroom (Mario series)
7. Yggdrasil
8. Willow Tree
9. Grass Sword (Adventure Time) Cool sword
10. Stray Cat (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure) - Not a nice cat transformed into a plant but it does make air bubbles.
11. The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary - If you fear stopping your vegetarianism for the love of meat, I have a solution.
12. Piranha Plants
13. Treebeard
14. Saguaro cactus (if other people are just saying cactus, just lump ‘em in)
15. Body Snatchers - If you aren't convinced they are good plants, just sleep on it...
16. Sakura Tree
17. Venus Flytrap
18. Toad (Mario series)
19. Rashovnik - The door-opening plants of Slavic mythology.
20. Rafflesia
21. Black Mercy - It gives you your fondest dreams... at a price.
22. General Sherman
23. Dipterocarp
24. Kite-Eating Tree - Even nature dumps on Charlie Brown
25. Monkey Puzzle Tree
26. Baobab Tree

BTW, if you still want to take part in our top 50 duos lists, the deadline is technically passed but if you can get it in sometime this weekend or early next week, I'll use it.

Top 50 Duos Nomination Thread - Voting Twice

One is the loneliest number... but with two, you'll never be alone. Hey ya'll! It's me, Johnny Unusual and today we are going to celebrate things that come in twos, whether they be attractive opposites or in sync (not to be confused with N SYNC, who are, in fact, not a duo). Now we've done...

talking-time.net

 

[SabreCat]

1. Venus flytrap
2. Oak
3. Elderberry
4. Swamp Thing
5. Giant kelp
6. Giant redwood
7. Shambling Mound
8. Groot
9. Treebeard the Ent
10. Slime mold
11. Water lily
12. Mandrake
13. Poison ivy
14. Weeping willow
15. Deathcap mushroom
16. Oxalis
17. Belladonna
18. Maize
19. Mangrove
20. Joshua tree
21. Saguaro
22. Prickly pear
23. Black raspberry
24. Cordyceps
25. Coconut

No love for the slime mold, smh

 

[Kirin]

And here's my own list, had a lot of hits on this one:

*01. Mana Tree
*02. Yggdrasil
03. White Tree of Numenor - another legendary tree
*04. Cherry Tree
*05. Cactuar
*06. Pikmin
*07. Dragons Blood Tree
*08. Ents
09. Malboro - I guess one could argue they're more like anemones, but I always though of them as a plant monster and at least some bestiaries agree
10. Blackberry - Just my fave tasty berry
*11. Cacao
*12. Great Deku Tree
*13. Bamboo
14. Aspen (Pando) - I mentioned this ancient clonal colony in some entry on the list, it's pretty cool
*15. Fire Flower
16. Bomb Flower - the most useful Zelda flower
*17. Pine (Bristlecone)
*18. Redwood
19. Baobob - another really cool big tree
20. Tree Fern - and an awesome-looking ancient tree
21. Clover - nice groundcover, pretty flowers, great food for bees
*22. Piranha Plant
*23. Mandrake
*24. Begonia
~25. Spaghetti Tree