No. 0001 – Bulbasaur
Species: Bulbasaur
Category: Symbiosis Pokémon
Types: Grass / Poison / Ground
Average Height: 70 cm
Average Weight: 6.9 kg
Habitat: No fixed pattern; found across multiple biomes
Scientific Record
Bulbasaur is one of the most widely distributed species in the Pokémon world and can be found, with morphological and genetic variations, in most known regions. This dispersal capability is not due to environmental resilience alone, but rather to a rare phenomenon among Pokémon: extreme genetic diversity through multigenerational symbiosis.
Unlike most species, which reproduce through two progenitors, Bulbasaur may possess up to four distinct genetic origins. This occurs due to the combination of two independent reproductive processes that culminate in a single functional individual.
The first process is sexual reproduction, in which an individual from the Bulbasaur–Ivysaur–Venusaur evolutionary line generates an animal embryo, informally referred to by researchers as the saur. The second process is vegetal reproduction, analogous to pollination, in which the reproductive structures of the bulb are fertilized, giving rise to an autonomous vegetal embryonic entity.
The number of bulbs produced is not equivalent to the number of saur embryos generated, creating natural imbalances. When there is a shortage of bulbs, saur that fail to achieve symbiotic fusion inevitably undergo physiological collapse and die in the wild. Under intensive human care, some saur may survive temporarily, although the scientific community strongly questions the ethics of such practices.
When the opposite occurs—an excess of bulbs—these may survive independently if the soil is biologically suitable or, in extremely rare cases, attempt to attach themselves to other Pokémon. However, symbiotic compatibility after full bulb formation is exceedingly low, being considerably more common when the organism is still in the seed stage.
A unique aspect of the species is that the saur and the bulb possess independent biological sexes. As a result, Bulbasaur exhibits four possible gender configurations: both male, both female, male saur with female bulb, and female saur with male bulb. This trait adds yet another layer of genetic and reproductive complexity to the species.
After the saur's egg is laid, it is buried in specific areas located along the migratory routes of Venusaur. In these regions, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of eggs and embryonic bulbs are deposited simultaneously. After hatching, the newborn saur enter a brief period of physiological instability, during which they actively seek a compatible bulb. When fusion occurs, a fully functional Bulbasaur is formed.
This symbiotic fusion is irreversible and defines the species, justifying its official classification as a Symbiosis Pokémon. Compatibility between saur and bulb is not random, being influenced by genetic, environmental, and regional factors, which results in enormous phenotypic variation within the species.
Evolutionary Origin
Paleobiological studies indicate that, millions of years ago, the saur and the bulb were distinct Pokémon. The ancestral organism of the saur possessed Ground / Dragon typing, while the bulb was classified as Grass / Fairy. Fusion is believed to have emerged as an adaptive response to severe environmental changes, ensuring the survival of both lineages.
The Poison typing is considered a later evolutionary acquisition, arising after the species became established in the Kanto region—identified as the modern cradle of Bulbasaur. The high concentration of Poison-type Pokémon in this region is believed to have exerted sufficient selective pressure to incorporate toxic metabolic processes into the symbiotic organism.
Historical Accounts and Scientific Taboos
Although the bulb is biologically specialized for fusion with the saur, several isolated episodes have marked the history of Pokémon research as severe warnings against human interference and ecological imbalance. These events are not treated as mere scientific records, but as historical accounts, frequently cited in ethical debates.
One of the earliest known reports comes from Sinnoh. Farmers in the region reported, decades ago, the emergence of an unusual vegetal formation on the shell of a Torterra. Researchers discovered that it was an advanced-stage bulb which, still in seed form, had attached itself during the Pokémon's slow movement. The fusion never completed; nevertheless, the bulb remained alive for years, forming a stable parasymbiotic relationship. The case came to be cited as an example of partial compatibility and the risks of prolonged exposure.
The most well-known incident, however, occurred in Alola—a region where Bulbasaur has never existed naturally. A Rowlet died after accidentally ingesting a bulb seed that had been illegally introduced through human action. The seed germinated internally, consuming the host organism. After the Pokémon's death, the plant continued to grow, eventually becoming a tree of monumental proportions. Today, the site is preserved as a botanical attraction, but also as a silent memorial to an ecological disaster.
This event deeply impacted the scientific community. Since then, any research related to bulb fusion with other species has been considered an academic taboo. The introduction of Bulbasaur into Alola was formally prohibited, and the species came to be classified by regional authorities as a potential ecological pest—one of the few regions in the Pokémon world where its presence is legally banned.
Growth, Evolution, and Variations
The average recorded height for Bulbasaur is 70 centimeters; however, this value represents only the population mean. The species has no rigid biological growth limit prior to evolution. In controlled environments—or through artificial selection—there are lineages of Bulbasaur capable of reaching exceptional sizes.
Evolution into Ivysaur occurs when the bulb absorbs sufficient solar energy and soil nutrients. At this stage, the bulb opens and directly shares metabolic energy with the saur, promoting accelerated growth, muscular reorganization, and structural adaptation of the animal organism.
Although this process is biologically programmed, Bulbasaur possesses the rare ability to inhibit the blooming of the bulb, delaying its own evolution. This phenomenon is extremely uncommon and is generally associated with psychological, environmental, or strategic factors.
There are reliable records of individuals reaching up to 3 meters in height, especially those bred with a focus on accelerated growth or agricultural use, further reinforcing the species' remarkable genetic plasticity.