The Origins of Vileplume
Here is another real-world influence for a specific first-generation Pokémon. Vileplume is an adorable yet powerful Pokémon that has an extremely beautiful flower atop its head. While this seems very whimsical and fairytale-like, it’s actually modeled off the Rafflesia flower, one of the most fascinating and largest flowers on Earth.
The Rafflesia is a parasitic flower that is found mainly in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It wasn’t “discovered” by Western scientists until the 19th century, but it’s been blooming long before then. If you’re still not convinced that Vileplume is modeled after this beautiful plant, just keep in mind that the Japanese name for this Pokémon is pronounced “Ruffresia.”