Beanstalk
Beanstalks (sometimes called Magic Vines) are used as ladders in the Mario series. They first appeared in Super Mario Bros., and remain dormant inside ? Blocks. When the player hit the blocks containing the beanstalk, a beanstalk would grow allowing the player to use it as a ladder. Most beanstalks have Piranha Plants as their heads while they are growing. The head disappears when the vine is fully grown.
Appearances
Games
Beanstalks first appeared in Super Mario Bros. where they were activated to reach secret places. In Super Mario Bros. 2, the stalks weree already grown in the level and did not need to be activated. In Super Mario Bros. 3 they match the color scheme of the world they are located in; brown for World 2, green for Worlds 3 and 4, blue for World 5, and white for World 6.
In Super Mario World, beanstalks returned to being green, and some grew toward breakable blocks. If Mario removes the blocks the stalk can continue rising, making shortcuts available. If the player is carrying an item such as a P-Switch, the stalk cannot be climbed normally. The player can kick the item up, start to climb the Beanstalk, and then hold the Y button again to catch the item coming down while climbing. Like other Piranha Plants, the standard Piranha Plant head will change into a Jumping Pumpkin Plant in Super Mario World, after the player completes Funky.
A beanstalk also appears in a Hotel Mario cutscene. Luigi kicks a ! Block, and a beanstalk sprouts out which Mario and Luigi climb to go to Lemmy's High-ate Regency Hotel.
A beanstalk is also an item in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Yoshi's Island DS, having a smaller head and smaller eyes in the latter game. Occasionally, when popping a ? Mark Cloud, Yoshi may uncover one of the seeds of these large, cheery plants. It then grows upwards at a very fast rate and produces ledge-like leaves while doing so. Unlike in other games, Yoshi must hop on its leaves instead of climbing it like a ladder.
Beanstalks later appeared in New Super Mario Bros. Here, they could grow downwards if Mario or Luigi hit the block containg the beanstalk from above with a ground pound. Beanstalks could also grow upwards if hit normally. This is the only game where beanstalks grow downwards.
In Super Paper Mario, beanstalks were activated as usual. However, this time they took on the appearance of a long black zigzag line due to the game's theme. Also, if Bowser is unable to climb up the beanstalk. If he tried, he would struggle and mutter "Can't climb!"
In Super Mario Galaxy, beanstalks can be found in certain galaxies such as the Good Egg Galaxy and the Gusty Garden Galaxy. Unlike in other games, they don't appear when a block is hit, instead appearing when a Piranha Plant is defeated. Due to the low gravity in these areas, the beanstalks do not sprout straight upwards; they twist and turn as they grow. They are mainly used as a means to travel to between planets. Also, in this game beanstalks must be climbed by shaking the Wii Remote.
Other Media
A beanstalk appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "Mario and the Beanstalk", which in itself was a spoof of Jack and the Beanstalk. The premise of the episode involved Mario and Luigi foolishly trading Princess Toadstool's Royal Cow for garbanzo beans, which the Princess rejected by sneezing them out of Mario's hand and into the soil, due to her allergy. The beans grew into a huge beanstalk overnight, which led Mario's group up into the clouds, where they discovered an enlarged King Koopa's castle.
After escaping from the castle, King Koopa summoned several Hoopsters to stop Mario and friends' progress on their way back down the beanstalk. However, the Hoopsters were quickly defeated by having freshly-picked garbanzo beans thrown at them. Upon reaching the bottom, Luigi chopped down the beanstalk with an axe, which brought King Koopa's entire castle crashing down with it.
Small Beanstalks could also be seen in the background of a few episodes of The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. However, they were never integral to the plot of any episode.
In the Super Mario World episode "Party Line", countless beanstalks were used as telephone lines (or rather, vines) for the Cave People of Dome City. After the concept of telephones proved to be unnecessary for the Cave People, Yoshi was given the job of eating all the vines.
