Super Mushroom

A Super Mushroom is a red Mushroom that allows whoever eats it to grow to an enormous size. When hit by an enemy, the consumer shrinks back to his normal size instead of losing a life.

In the first game it appears in, Super Mario Bros., the mushroom appears differently, having no eyes and a yellow/red color scheme as well as being shaped more like an actual mushroom.

The Super Mushroom appears in Hotel Mario. It doesn't make Mario big or small, but gives Mario the chance to take one hit and not lose a life. The only difference between the normal Mario and the one that ate the Super Mushroom is strange colored overalls.

In relation to Mario Kart, a Super Mushroom is an item that gives the kart continuous bursts of speed over a time period of around eight seconds. A particular Super Mushroom is known as the Golden Mushroom can be used over and over. In some games and tracks, it is necessary to clear some (optional) jumps. Hitting another player during the boost allows players to steal any items in some games, or a balloon in Battle Mode's Balloon Battle the other kart may be carrying (in Mario Kart Double Dash!!, if both characters have something, then the player will steal the back player's item and have the front one drop their item).

In Super Mario 64 DS, the Super Mushroom was an added power-up in this game, having not appeared in Super Mario 64. Although timed, it enables the player to grow in tremendous size and defeat every enemy you run into, such as Thwomps, Bill Blasters, etc.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Super Mushrooms restore 50 HP to whoever eats one. However, in the game's sequel Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, a Super Mushroom only recovers 40 HP. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, it allow the player to grow to an incredible size thus making him heavier and harder to knock off. Experiment with them in Huge Melee mode. Use one while playing as Mario, then do his stance. This will make him taller than almost all the levels in the game. The item will return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with the exact same effect.

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Melee
''Super Mario Bros. veterans will recognize these power-ups, which hid inside brick blocks and helped Mario and Luigi withstand enemy attacks. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, they temporarily turn your character into a giant. Not only will your size and strength increase, but so will your mass, making it harder for foes to knock you off.''

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''A mushroom that makes you giant sized. When you're this big, your attack power increases and you're harder to launch. But you become an easy target and may come under serious fire. Unlike other items, it doesn't remain in one place but moves to the right once it appears. Why to the right? Well, because that's what it did in its original appearance in Super Mario Bros.''

Trivia

 * The manual of the original Super Mario Bros. actually refers to the Super Mushroom as the "Magic Mushroom", but the name was changed due to the reference of hallucinogenic mushrooms.