Lava Bud

A Lava Bud is actually a juvenile Lava Piranha. Two of them, along with a Lava Piranha, are the boss of Chapter 5 in Paper Mario.

A sub-species of Putrid Piranha, the Lava Piranha differs from other Piranha Plants of its kind due to the fact that its juvenile form doesn't fly--instead, it is planted to the ground, like a Naval Bud. In a Lava Piranha patch, there is usually one mature stalk for every two juveniles. However, mature Lava Piranhas are unable to reproduce, as their internal temperature is too hot. However, Lava Buds reproduce via spores; if confronted with danger, they will fire these spores--Petit Piranhas--at enemies, but otherwise will just randomly spit spores. Lava Buds will not die as long as the oldest Lava Piranha in the patch is alive. Once the mature one dies, the buds lose the nutrients they were retrieving from the adult and wither.