Fire Flower

A Fire Flower is a special item that allows Mario or Luigi or Wario to transform into Fire Mario, Fire Luigi or Fire Wario. In this form, they can shoot fireballs that can defeat many enemies. The Flower first appeared in Super Mario Bros., where it could be found in a ? Block if the player had already obtained a Super Mushroom. It went on to appear in several other games in the Super Mario Bros series, such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. A similar power-up is the Flower from Super Mario Land, which allowed mario to turn into Superball Mario. Another similar item, called a Power Flower, appeared in Super Mario 64 DS. In Super Mario World and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, the Fire Flowers were shaped liked tulips. Fire Wario made his only appearance in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as a boss.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
In Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Fire Flowers are referred to as Bros. Flowers and attack all enemies as well as possibly causing a burn. In addition, there are two related items: the Mix Flower, which when used creates one giant fireball that falls upon the foe, and the Ice Flower, which is used in the same manner as a Bros. Flower but reduces the enemies' stats rather than causing a burn. In the Paper Mario series, when Mario and his allies use a Fire Flower on their foes, it does three damage to each of them. It's a common item and isn't very useful when Mario and the gang start fighting stronger enemies.

Mario vs Donkey Kong: March of the Minis
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, when a Mini-Mario touches a Fire Flower, he would become Fire Mini-Mario and begin rapidly shooting fireballs.

Super Smash Bros. Series
The Super Smash Bros. series has Fire Flowers as well. Once picked up, the player could use it to expel fire, hurting anyone who came too close. It does have a limit to how much fire it can use, and will lose its abilities after constant use. However, this doesn't mean it is worthless. The player could throw the Fire Flower at someone to burn them. Fire Flowers will return in Super Smash Bros Brawl, with their appearance from New Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Galaxy
The Fire Flower returns in the Wii game Super Mario Galaxy, which is the first 3-D game to feature such an item. When obtained, the Fire Flower turns Mario into Fire Mario, allowing him to throw fireballs that can defeat enemies and light torches. Unlike other games where the Fire Flower lasts until the player takes damage, this Fire Flower only lasts for a limited amount of time (though Mario can keep the ability if he should take damage). Like the Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it takes the appearance of the New Super Mario Bros. Fire Flower.

Appearance in Other Media
The Club Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Verloren in der Zeit" reveals that Fire Flowers have existed since Stone Age. In this story, Mario uses a Fire Flower to shoot Fireballs at a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Melee
''Once you grab this item, press and hold down the A Button to make the flower breathe flames until its power gives out. The Fire Flower is incredibly useful when you want to push someone off the edge of a stage. In Super Mario Bros., it transformed Mario into Fire Mario, changing his garb and enabling him to throw fireballs.''

Trophy Information from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
''A flower that breathes flames when you press and hold the attack button. The flames don't last forever, though--after a while, the flower will lose its fiery power. You can also throw Fire Flowers at enemies to set them on fire for a brief moment. In Super Mario Bros., Fire Flowers were used to transform Mario into Fire Mario.''

Trivia

 * In a similar manner to how Mario and Luigi have both eaten and "absorbed" Mushrooms throughout their games, there is much controversy over whether Mario must eat a Fire Flower or simply touch it to became Fire Mario. Although most games make Fire Flowers simply disappear upon contact with Mario, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door seemingly confirms that Mario does indeed eat Fire Flowers, as is indicated by a certain optional scene where Mario informs a Lakitu cameraman that he "shoots fire when he eats a flower". In the Club Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Verloren in der Zeit" Mario even reveals something about their taste, claiming that Fire Flowers "taste disgusting, but if I eat them, I can shoot Fireballs".
 * An enemy called Fire Bros. shoots Fireballs similar to the Fire Flower's Fireballs.