Chrysanthemum family

The chrysanthemum family contains three species, two classed as enemies, and one as a plant, much in the same way as the Pikmin. This family is based on the real-life. Members belong to the luminosus and taraxacum genus.

Creeping Chrysanthemum


Scientific name: Taraxacum rovinia

The Creeping Chrysanthemum is a carnivorous member of the Chrysanthemum family. In Pikmin 2 it is a large plant-like creature with a red mouth, two eyes on its shoulders disguised as flowers, and two arm-like tentacles that it uses to move around; in Pikmin 4 it has a more froglike body and legs as well as a long tongue that it uses to catch prey.

This creature disguises itself as a Margaret, rising up out of the ground and attacking prey that ventures near; as such, they are often found near real Margarets. It can be distinguished from a Margaret because its eyes are visible when camouflaged.

Margaret


Scientific name: Luminosus croeaus

Margarets are yellow, dandelion-like plants. They tend to grow in bright places, such as the Awakening Wood. Creeping Chrysanthemums are often found where there are many of these plants.

Startle Spore


Scientific name: Taraxacum fungenesus

The Startle Spore disguises itself as a cluster of mushrooms rather than as a plant, and leaves behind pools of poisonous liquid when it attacks.

Naming
Chrysanthemums are a real-world family of flowers, and greatly resemble the in-game family's members.

Interestingly, the Creeping Crysanthemum has the genus Taraxacum, even though it is not part of the dandelion family. In real life, this is impossible, as different species cannot be in the same genus and different families.