======Bouncing Bulb======
=====Plant Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Magical Plant]]
  * **Caretakers:** [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] ([[Herbology]] Department)
=====Description and Appearance=====
A **Bouncing Bulb** is a magical plant that appears as a purple, "rather ugly" bulb. They are notably animated, constantly wriggling and jumping, even when sitting on a bench. They are small enough to be held in a student's hands but possess considerable energy, making them difficult to restrain. When one escapes a person's grasp, it can bounce with enough force to reach the ceiling of a [[Hogwarts]] [[Greenhouse]].
=====Properties and Usage=====
The primary characteristic of a **Bouncing Bulb** is its vigorous and incessant bouncing. This property makes handling them a challenge, requiring both strength and dexterity.
In the [[Hogwarts]] [[Herbology]] curriculum, students learn to handle and repot Bouncing Bulbs. This task is taught by at least the fourth year, serving as a practical lesson in managing volatile magical flora. The main goal for students is to successfully transfer the bulb from one pot to another without it escaping.
A notable, and potentially dangerous, property of the bulb is its ability to physically strike individuals. While repotting them, [[Professor Sprout]] once warned a student to be careful, as a Bouncing Bulb had just tried to "take a bite out of" him.
=====Role in the Story=====
Bouncing Bulbs primarily serve to build the world of the [[Herbology]] curriculum at [[Hogwarts]]. They are featured in two specific lessons:
  * In //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]//, [[Harry Potter]]'s fourth-year class is tasked with repotting Bouncing Bulbs. During this lesson, [[Ernie Macmillan]] loudly discusses his support for Harry as a [[Triwizard Tournament|Hogwarts Champion]], providing a backdrop of school life amidst the tension of the tournament. Harry struggles with his bulb, which leaps from his hands and hits the [[Greenhouse]] ceiling.
  * In //[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]//, the fifth-year students, including [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]], are once again repotting Bouncing Bulbs. [[Professor Sprout]] remarks on their improved handling of the plants compared to the previous year, showing the students' growth in magical skill. This lesson occurs just before Harry must attend his first detention with the tyrannical [[Dolores Umbridge]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In some video games, the Bouncing Bulb is presented as a combat plant that can be thrown at enemies to cause a small explosion or impact. (video game)
  * On the Pottermore website, it is depicted as a fanged, aggressive-looking purple bulb that can be used offensively by witches and wizards. (Pottermore)