Pikmin

Pikmin are a plant species and the namesake of the video game series, Pikmin. They have cameoed in Mario games twice thus far, but their main role is in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where they are assistants to Captain Olimar.

Super Smash Bros. series
Pikmin serve Captain Olimar in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Although they are technically not playable, Olimar is almost completely helpless without them, for they are featured in all of Olimar's Special Moves, and presumably some of his Smash Attacks. As such, they must be plucked from the ground.

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''These strange beings are part plant, part animal. They spend most of their time buried in the earth, but they will befriend whoever plucks them, as evidenced by their devotion to Captain Olimar. Each Pikmin has a leaf on its head that grows into a bud and finally a flower. Like a flower, the life of a Pikmin is both fragile and beautiful.''

Red Pikmin
''A type of Pikmin--which are odd beings who grow like plants yet are as mobile as animals. Red ones are heat and fire resistant and are strong attackers, which makes them valuable when facing dangerous foes. Purple Pikmin are also tough fighters, but since it's difficult to increase their numbers, red Pikmin are easier to manage. Red Pikmin have distinct pointed noses.''

Blue Pikmin
''A type of Pikmin, which are curious creatures that follow and obey the person who picks them. If you take advantage of this trait, you can get them to help Capt. Olimar and Louie. The blue Pikmin are at home in water and cannot drown. Need to retrieve an object underwater or cross a water hazard to disarm a trap? Blue Pikmin are just the allies you need.''

Yellow Pikmin
''A type of Pikmin. Take a nutrient- rich pellet to a flying saucer known as an Onion, and it will produce the mysterious beings known as Pikmin. Yellow ones fly higher than other Pikmin when tossed by Olimar or Louie. Unlike other Pikmin, they're also highly resistant to electricity, which makes them invaluable when battling enemies like anode dweevils.''

White Pikmin
''A type of Pikmin. White Pikmin are resistant to poisons and are themselves toxic to creatures that eat them. Their low weight makes them very speedy, and they can also dig up buried items. White and purple Pikmin do not live inside Onions, so you must change other Pikmin into them by tossing them into ivory candypop buds and violet candypop buds.''

Purple Pikmin
''A type of Pikmin, much heavier and slower than other Pikmin. When thrown, they impact with such force that they may kill or stun enemies. They're also incredibly strong--one of them can carry an item that normally would require ten Pikmin. While they're more powerful fighters than their red cousins, their slow speed hampers their effectiveness.''

Cameos
The Pikmin's first appearance in the Mario series was in Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour. Here, if the golf ball landed in a patch of flowers, Pikmin would pop out. This implies that Pikmin may live in the Mushroom World, in addition to the Pikmin Planet.

They later appeared in a Pikmin 2 Microgame in WarioWare: Smooth Moves, which, obviously, belonged to 9-Volt. Here, the player controls Empress Bulblax and must roll over all of the Pikmin to squish them.