These peppy little darlings are a vivid scarlet red! As you can tell by their appearance, these critters are very passionate. In fact, they're such hotheads that they're immune to fire! Even their displays of affection are ardent. They'll beat their tiny fists on you in an abundance of enthusiasm!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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Pikmin are part of the Ambuloradicis class, which consists of creatures that exhibit both plant and animal characteristics. A Pikmin will instinctively follow whoever plucks it from the ground, so it so quite common for them to form symbiotic relationships with another species or accept a leader of a different species, as it serves the goal of propagating their own species as a whole. The Red Pikmin is the most common Pikmin species. It can be identified by the nose-like protuberance on its head and its highly aggressive behavior. It also has a few surprising and unique qualities- for example, its immunity to extreme heat and fire, despite the fact that it's a living organism. This can be explained by looking closely at its skin and muscle fibers, which are made up of a flame-resistant cellulose.
Extraordinary! When I plucked the sprout, it turned out to be a living creature, not a plant! Picking it has done no visible damage... It just stands there, staring at me. Its shape is similar to the Pikpik brand carrots I love so much... I believe I shall call it a Pikmin.
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~ Olimar's discovery of the Red Pikmin
"Red Pikmin are resistant to fire."
"Red Pikmin are good fighters."
“
Look at the extraordinarily big, pointy ears on the adorable Yellow Pikmin! I doubt you can whisper a secret they won't hear. Try throwing one. They can easily retrieve objects for you from places you can't reach! Also, electricity doesn't faze them at all. They're shockingly useful little guys!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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It's generally believed that the Pikmin body was originally the root of a plant that has evolved over centuries, if not millennia, developing stuctures analagous to muscles, neural networks similar to those of a brain, and more. However, Yellow Pikmin possess a perfect resistance to electricity, a force which actually poses extreme danger to other organisms. Oddly enough, this species of Pikmin actually seems to...enjoy electricity! Their flowers even bloom when they are exposed to electric current. This fact would lead one to believe that their neural-transmission methods are quite different than our own. This species used the ear-like lamellae on its head to soar to great heights and dig holes.
The yellow Pikmin have picked up some peculiar stones. Why did they decide to grab them? This action seems to be instinctive to the yellow Pikmin. But just what are these strange glowing stones? Brightly glowing cracks cover them. Perhaps these cracks indicate that there's tremendous power locked away within. This merits further research.
„
~ Olimar's discovery of the Yellow Pikmin
"Yellow Pikmin can conduct electricity."
"Yellow Pikmin are shock resistant."
"Yellow Pikmin can be thrown higher."
"Yellow Pikmin are good at digging."
“
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that watching these Pikmin navigate the water with the grace of a fish is one of the most lovely things to behold on this planet! But if you really want to see them swimming, you'll need to offer them some live bait!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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The accepted theory is that Pikmin evolved from terrestrial root vegetables, and so would be unable to breathe underwater and subsequently drown. Yet the Blue Pikmin possess a gill resembling a mouth on their head, which enables them to be active underwater. While on land, they leaf and flower like other Pikmin species, and they breathe through the stomata on their skin, indicating they must be naturally amphibious.
Pigment proteins on the surface of their body essentially perform the same photosynthetic process as cyanobacteria. for example, which is what gives them their striking color.
It is a Pikmin of yet another color. Near this one's cheeks is what appears to be a set of gills. This trait suggests to me that this blue type of Pikmin can enter the water without any trouble whatsoever. There's only one way to find out...
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~ Olimar's discovery of the Blue Pikmin
"Blue Pikmin can survive in water."
"Blue Pikmin can attack while swimming."
“
This creature's cap is elastic, negating any Pikmin attacks. Attacking its lower torso works better, but the puffstool lets out spores that turn the Pikmin into mushrooms, which then attack me! They return to normal when shaken off.
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~ Olimar's voyage logs
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It's a profoundly heavy feeling, holding a living thing in your arms. It can be overwhelming to realize this thing is really alive! Thst said, these little ones have a density to them that makes them extremely heavy. To hold them at all is difficult. But don't worry. They're strong enough that they can hold you!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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Slightly larger in size, Purple Pikmin can weigh up to 10 times as much as other Pikmin species, and when thrown to the ground, their impact creates gravitational waves that can actually warp space-time! It's astonishing.
The density of their muscle fibers is also much higher than that of other Pikmin, allowing them to transport 10 times as much weight as their average-sized counterparts. Their rich purple color is derived from strong polyphenol antioxidants.
Like White Pikmin, they are born from underground Candypop Buds, and no related Onions have been discovered so far. But I think somewhere underground, deep among the relics of the past, a Purple Onion is waiting to be discovered.
Amazing! A purple Pikmin! It has little hair... and is quite stocky. It seems very heavy and strong.
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~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
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These tiny White Pikmin can dart about quite swiftly. Their bold red eyes are as charming as they are startling. Like a flower that has sharp thorns, these cute little ones possess a potent poison! Such small critters need to be tough to survive.
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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White Pikmin are "born" through a color-changing process within white Candypop Buds, which only grow underground.
The poison within its body is a type of diterpene alkaloid similar to a toxin often found in certain plant roots. If ingested, it can lead to vomiting, respiratory distress, and complete organ failure, ultimately resulting in death due to cardiac arrest.
Incredible! A white Pikmin! It is tiny, but looks distinctly swift. Its eyes are an unseemly red.
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~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
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These confused bulborbs seem to have fallen in with the Pikmin. They appear to coexist peacefully.
Strange... This bulborb has a leaf sprouting from its spine, much like the leaf of a Pikmin's head.
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~ Hocotate Ship's analysis
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Rock Pikmin may be rugged and craggy in appearance, but their well-polished skin is cool and smooth to the touch. Those dark, shiny stone bodies are built for defense, and they're capable attackers too. And did you notice those stubby little legs? Aren't they the cutest!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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This species is definitely a member of the Pikmin genus, but its body does not share any of the plant-like traits that Pikmin are known for. Instead, it's composed primarily of stone. The stone is actually the chosen host for a parasitic subset of Pikmin species nicknamed "Hermikmin." Similar to how a seed can sprout and push through the cracks of a rock, the Pikmin's roots stretch deep into the stone, storing its vital organs in an interior cavity that resembles a crystal geode.
Are these creatures Pikmin too? They're giving me a funny look...
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~ Alph discovering the Rock Pikmin
"Rock Pikmin are very hard... like rocks."
"Rock Pikmin inflict extraordinary damage when thrown directly onto an enemy or object."
"Rock Pikmin aren't crushed when trampled on."
“
These peculiar little fliers look like they're wearing goggles. Don't be put off by their odd appearance though. Places that seem like dead ends, such as treacherous roads, lakes, swamps, and sheer cliffs, are nothing to them when they're not carrying anything. With a few flaps of their tiny wings they flit through the air like fierce fairies.
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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The wings on the back of this flying Pikmin species closely resemble the wings you would find on a flying creature. It's possible that an ancient Winged Onion somehow absorbed a flying creature's DNA, which then resulted in the precursor to the Winged Pikmin transforming into the species we recognize today. If this theory is correct, then Onions might also be serving the role of messenger, transmitting new traits and characteristics to their Pikmin.
A new type of Pikmin came from the Onion trapped by that creature.
A type with little wings! It's the first time I've seen a Pikmin fly.
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~ Alph discovering the Winged Pikmin
"Winged Pikmin can fly."
"Winged Pikmin can lift objects into the air."
"Winged Pikmin are somewhat lacking in attack strength."
"Winged Pikmin are aces in aerial combat."
“
With the frigid air welling up endlessly from inside their icy bodies, they can freeze anything at all! If you throw enough of them in a pond, they'll freeze the surface so solidly that you can walk right across it! They're just like little ice wizards!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
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Pikmin supposedly evolved from plants, yet there are also Pikmin species with bodies made of ice, known as ice Pikmin. How is this possible? The answer to this question lies in the fact that Ice Pikmin are parasitic by nature, and the ice serves as their host. The composition of this type of ice is, predictably, mostly water, but it resembles saline solution with faint concentrations of trace sodium ions, potassium ions, and calcium ions that function as neural transmitters. Interestingly, the ice exhibits no visual signs of melting or dripping when exposed to sunlight. This is due to its low-temperature core, which continuously creates more ice in order to maintain a consistent size.
Here you are, far from home, stranded on a strange planet with a night even more dangerous than the unforgiving day. But in the night, the faint, gentle light given off by these gloriously glowing li'l beans brings hope to our adventures. That shine is a beacon of life that we recognize in our hearts!
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~ Dalmo's Piklopedia Notes
“
Although they've been named Glow Pikmin, it's not entirely clear whether or not this species is actually a type of Pikmin. These creatures possess the same fundamental behaviors of Pikmin, like carrying things, propagating, and fighting. They also share special characteristics, such as the leaf atop their head. Yet they do not spawn from an Onion but a Lumiknoll, and they are only active at night or underground. During the day, they revert into seeds and enter a resting state. What's even more surprising is that they exhibit no signs of life. When a Glow Pikmin "dies," if that word can even be used, it does not expire in the typical sense. Instead, it just becomes a form of light-or perhaps a photon-and returns to the Lumiknoll. Putting aside my "scientist" hat for a moment...it seems to me that this creature or entity may not be a living organism at all but some manner of spiritual substance.
Pikmin are a plant-animal life-form first encountered by Captain Olimar when his ship crash-lands on an uncharted planet in Pikmin. The Pikmin are loyal to their leaders, although their criteria for deciding a leader is unclear. They come in a number of different types, each indicating a unique set of attributes that better suit them to different environments and tasks. Most Pikmin are 1.2 cm, from the top of the head to the feet, and have a vaguely humanoid shape, allowing them to walk, run, carry, and fight. Different types can have different shapes or sizes. Atop any Pikmin's head is a stem, topped with a leaf, bud, or flower, depending on their maturity.
Captain Olimar was noted in Pikmin to wonder, a bit uneasily, why the Pikmin don't attack him, and he speculated that they might see him as a "parental figure". However, the Antenna Beetle being able to control Pikmin with its sound might prove that it is in fact the whistle that makes Pikmin non-aggressive. As of Pikmin 3 Deluxe however, it is implied by the various murals located around the globe that they view Olimar as a sort of higher deity who guides them, showing the relationship between Olimar and the Pikmin is one of loyalty.
Biology
Although each Pikmin species have different characteristics, most Pikmin have the same general appearance: a roughly humanoid body shape, two round eyes, two arms and two legs, two hands and two feet – each with three digits – and a tall stem on which a single leaf, bud, or five-petaled flower grows. Their limbs also serve as roots when buried in the ground. In fact, Olimar refers to their entire bodies, save the stems, as ambulatory root structures.
The internal structures of Pikmin are a mystery, but certain things about them can be speculated. Since Pikmin never seem to eat anything, save nectar, they probably have a very simple digestive system, if any. As such, it is likely that Pikmin get a majority of their nutrients from food the Onions break down. Since the Onions are the center of Pikmin reproduction as well, it seems likely that Pikmin are incapable of sexual reproduction. However, in Pikmin, flowering Pikmin will sometimes drop seeds when slain in battle, allowing for new Pikmin to sprout in their place, suggesting that they may be able to reproduce asexually, but also that they do not have defined sexes and are hermaphrodites like many plants. Pikmin also have a skeletal system, as seen when electrocuted. These bones however are incredibly flexible to the point of allowing the Pikmin to act like rubber (Although they can be flattened and killed with enough force).
Pikmin don't appear to have any sort of lungs (However, the Blue Pikmin are observed to have gill structures), but their leaves, buds, and flowers appear to serve as their main means of respiration, since poison gas or water droplets collecting around them suffocates the Pikmin; inversely, walking in shallow water in which their leaf/bud/flower does not touch (as seen in the Shower Room) is fine. When killed, Pikmin disappear and a ghost resembling the original Pikmin flies into the air, sometimes after releasing a liquid of the same color as the Pikmin, possibly the Pikmin equivalent to hemolymph or blood – this is best seen when the Cloaking Burrow-nit attacks.
Pikmin start off as seeds ejected from the Onion, which, after landing on the ground, transform into sprouts. A leader must pluck a sprout so that the Pikmin may come out or alternatively have the Pluckaphone whistle blown at them to "inspire" them. While idle, the Pikmin's leaves and flowers glow that Pikmin's respective color; that, coupled with a cutscene at the end of Pikmin 2, would suggest that Pikmin are somehow bioluminescent, though what causes this and what function(s) it might serve in the wild have never been explained.
Regular Pikmin are able to carry at least ten times their own weight, as evidenced by the ability of Blue Pikmin to lift and toss heavy Purple Pikmin when they are drowning in water and have even been shown to lift entire nuggets of gold roughly the size of the Pikmin. Pikmin are also capable of basic speech and can even be heard saying English phrases like "OK!", "Hi!", and "Yahoo!" after being plucked from the ground. When in a group they will sometimes sing parts of Ai no Uta in Pikmin 2. If left idle for a long time, Pikmin will moan at each other. From what is heard, it can be assumed that Pikmin language is very simple and primitive.
Stages
Pikmin can be divided into three stages. In the first of these, the Pikmin will have a leaf on their stem, which changes to a bud and then a flower as the stage increases. Leaf Pikmin are the slowest and least efficient at performing tasks, but as the stage goes up the movement speed and task efficiency increases. Along with that, Pikmin think more efficiently in both combat and task when in a higher stage as they sprout into their flower state when thinking of more elaborate plans.
In some situations, Pikmin can also instantly mature from leaf to flower if threatened by immediate danger (I.e threat of falling from a dangerously high place). After this point, they will remain matured for the duration of their lifespan unless reverted back to a prior state in battle.
Pikmin can advance their current stage in several ways. The most common way is by being fed nectar. Alternatively, they may be left underground before being plucked, where they will gradually mature with time, or, in Pikmin 3, they can be sprayed. When knocked to the ground in battle in Pikmin and Pikmin 2, they have a chance of losing their maturity and decreasing in stage. They will never revert their current stage in Pikmin 3.
In Pikmin, if a flower Pikmin is shaken off, it will revert to a bud, and the bud will revert to a leaf in the same scenario. In Pikmin 2, however, flower Pikmin revert to leaf Pikmin immediately. Like flower Pikmin, buds can be received when leaf Pikmin are allowed to stay in the ground for a certain amount of time.
Codex Statistics
Tier: At least 10-C with most Pikmin, Higher with Red, Rock, and Purple Pikmin Pikmin, Far Higher in large groups of Pikmin
Name: Pikmin (Name of species), Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Purple Pikmin, White Pikmin, Rock Pikmin, Winged Pikmin, Ice Pikmin, Glow Pikmin, etcetera (Not all Pikmin types have been discovered as shown in the ending of Pikmin)
Sex: Unknown (Has no confirmed sex and are hermaphrodites like many plants)
Age: Varies depending on how long a Pikmin can stay alive.
Status:Alive (The Pikmin species is currently thriving and has seen a massive growth thanks to the introduction of leaders to the Pikmin species)
Alignment:Unaligned (The Pikmin are driven mostly by instinct, which leads them to side with Olimar for survival purposes. Despite this, they do cherish Olimar and view him as a deity of sorts. Pikmin also seem to infect those they see as a leader, such as Moss, with a leafling to prevent them from leaving PNF-404 in hopes of surviving)
Attack Potency: At least Below Average Human level (Most Pikmin species can instantly kill dwarf bulborbs and the Pikmin are capable of fighting), to Human level with Rock Pikmin (Rock Pikmin can hit with enough force to destroy small pebbles in the ground and are capable of breaking crystal surfaces), to Athlete level with Purple Pikmin (Purple Pikmin have ten times the strength of a regular pikmin and can one-shot most enemies regular Pikmin can't), Far Higher in large groups of Pikmin (Large numbers of Pikmin can attack all at once for massive amounts of damage, in many cases killing much larger enemies nigh-instantly)
Durability:Varies from At least Below Average Human level+ (Pikmin are shown comparable to each other and can fight the their corrupted Mushroom Pikmin variants), to Human level for Rock Pikmin (Rock Pikmin are far tougher than most variants of Pikmin due to their rocky physiology), to Athlete level for Purple Pikmin (Purple Pikmin are far stockier and heavy than any other Pikmin)
Striking Strength:Varies from Below Average Human Class for weaker Pikmin, to At least Below Average Human Class+ for most other Pikmin, to Human Class for Rock Pikmin, to Athlete Class for Purple Pikmin, Far Higher in large groups of Pikmin
Bomb Rocks: Bomb rocks are explosive rocks in the Pikmin games. Upon being activated, a rock's fuse starts going down (represented by a colored wheel), and when it reaches zero, the bomb causes a violent explosion, capable of damaging enemies, Pikmin, leaders and some obstacles. In the first and third games, they can be carried by Pikmin, but only by Yellow Pikmin in the former. In Pikmin 2, they are much larger and serve as obstacles instead of tools, with the exception being on the 2-Player Battle stage Hostile Territory, where they can be picked up and thrown by leaders. They can also appear as items in 2-Player Battle and Bingo Battle.
Other
Weaknesses: Aside from Bulbmin, every Pikmin either only resists one elemental type or none of them. Purples and Rocks resist no elemental types, and any Pikmin that's not a blue pikmin or Winged Pikmin can drown. Though if a Winged Pikmin does get caught off guard they can fall in the water and proceed to drown themselves. However, this weakness can be avoided with the help of Blue Pikmin throwing them out of the water
Gallery
Gallery
The three types of Pikmin from Pikmin.
Artwork of Olimar and his army of Pikmin.
Another artwork of Olimar and his Pikmin.
Artwork of Captain Olimar and a few Pikmin. The message reads "Nice to meet you!"
Pikmin are part of the Ambuloradicis class, which consists of creatures that exhibit both plant and animal characteristics. A Pikmin will instinctively follow whoever plucks it from the ground, so it so quite common for them to form symbiotic relationships with another species or accept a leader of a different species, as it serves the goal of propagating their own species as a whole. The Red Pikmin is the most common Pikmin species. It can be identified by the nose-like protuberance on its head and its highly aggressive behavior. It also has a few surprising and unique qualities- for example, its immunity to extreme heat and fire, despite the fact that it's a living organism. This can be explained by looking closely at its skin and muscle fibers, which are made up of a flame-resistant cellulose.
All that is known about this creature stems from a few sightings deep underground. All reported sightings feature the same core set of details: a giant, viscous form with a clear, hazy sheen not unlike hard candy. One theory holds that it may be the ectoplasmic incarnation of a kind of psychic phenomenon, but as is usually the case with such theories, it is very difficult to prove. All witnesses report being suddenly overcome with fear upon sighting the creature, approaching a state of panic and near insanity. In fact, every report contains an inordinate amount of extremely vague details, which has led to suspicions that exhaustion and fear have caused some simple natural phenomenon to be viewed as a living creature.
Slightly larger in size, Purple Pikmin can weigh up to 10 times as much as other Pikmin species, and when thrown to the ground, their impact creates gravitational waves that can actually warp space-time! It's astonishing.
The density of their muscle fibers is also much higher than that of other Pikmin, allowing them to transport 10 times as much weight as their average-sized counterparts. Their rich purple color is derived from strong polyphenol antioxidants.
Like White Pikmin, they are born from underground Candypop Buds, and no related Onions have been discovered so far. But I think somewhere underground, deep among the relics of the past, a Purple Onion is waiting to be discovered.
These parasitic insects feed on eggs. Upon reaching maturity, they excrete a special pheromone that attracts females of particular species, enticing these females to swallow the mitites whole. (Pikmin, however, seem to dislike the scent.) After entering the host female's body, the mitites lay their own eggs inside the host's eggs just prior to the host spawning.
White Pikmin are "born" through a color-changing process within white Candypop Buds, which only grow underground.
The poison within its body is a type of diterpene alkaloid similar to a toxin often found in certain plant roots. If ingested, it can lead to vomiting, respiratory distress, and complete organ failure, ultimately resulting in death due to cardiac arrest.
While life-forms that excrete foul musks to warn of danger are not rare, the doodlebug is the only species known to release flatulence when active above ground. Interestingly enough, since it is merely releasing the gas created by decay of the contents of the creature's intestines, it does not have a special musk-producing organ. This means the creature is in fact merely flatulating. Spectral analysis of the rank gas indicates it contains not only methane, but hydrogen sulfide as well, making the flatulence a Grade XIII biohazard.
Pikmin supposedly evolved from plants, yet there are also Pikmin species with bodies made of ice, known as ice Pikmin. How is this possible? The answer to this question lies in the fact that Ice Pikmin are parasitic by nature, and the ice serves as their host. The composition of this type of ice is, predictably, mostly water, but it resembles saline solution with faint concentrations of trace sodium ions, potassium ions, and calcium ions that function as neural transmitters. Interestingly, the ice exhibits no visual signs of melting or dripping when exposed to sunlight. This is due to its low-temperature core, which continuously creates more ice in order to maintain a consistent size.
Although they've been named Glow Pikmin, it's not entirely clear whether or not this species is actually a type of Pikmin. These creatures possess the same fundamental behaviors of Pikmin, like carrying things, propagating, and fighting. They also share special characteristics, such as the leaf atop their head. Yet they do not spawn from an Onion but a Lumiknoll, and they are only active at night or underground. During the day, they revert into seeds and enter a resting state. What's even more surprising is that they exhibit no signs of life. When a Glow Pikmin "dies," if that word can even be used, it does not expire in the typical sense. Instead, it just becomes a form of light-or perhaps a photon-and returns to the Lumiknoll. Putting aside my "scientist" hat for a moment...it seems to me that this creature or entity may not be a living organism at all but some manner of spiritual substance.
Besdies the fact that they serve as incubators and nests for Glow Pikmin, we know very little about the Lumiknoll's ecology.
when nocturnal creatures die, a Lumiknoll can break them down into glow pellets through the strong dissolving enzymes. This matter, when condensed, becomes glow sap.
One might assume glow sap is then an extremely dangerous substance, but it has hardly any negative effects. In fact, I've had it administered to me personally as a curative medicine to break down growing leaves.
Lumiknolls will only appear in places where an Onion was located earlier in the day, and since they propagate Glow Pikmin, one could surmise that they are rhizomes from those Onions. Perhaps, using its dissolving powers, it returns the nectar that supports the ecosystem back to the soil.
