Buridanka (ブリダンカ) is a species of plant native to Darhos. It is carnivorous and capable of growing to great size in the more amenable atmosphere of Earth.

Fiction

The Headmasters cartoon

Scorponok, as part of a plot to destroy Fortress and the Autobot Headmasters or at least distract them from the building of his transtector at Zarak, planted buridanka seeds under a building in San Francisco and sneaked some into a seed packet that Daniel Witwicky brought to Athenia. The San Francisco seeds soon grew into a plant of enormous size, crashing through the floor and implanting itself on the building's roof. The expected Autobots were soon at the scene, where they confronted Decepticon forces preventing them from focusing their attentions on the plant. After identifying the plant's species and origins, the Autobot Headmasters soon joined the scene and the buridanka surprised all by uprooting itself and becoming mobile.

Not one of Daniel's finest moments.

The seeds that Daniel planted on Athenia also grew into a monstrous buridanka, although of a smaller size. The plant terrified Daniel and Wheelie into the nearby base, where Spike and Arcee did their own research on the plant. Aghast at his part in bringing the monster to Athenia, Daniel went out to attack the buridanka by himself, to little effect.

Meanwhile, at Earth, Fortress found his Battleship Maximus tangled in the buridanka's vines, so he decided to harness the power of the Master Sword, becoming Fortress Maximus and using the sword to destroy the leafy menace. Through an unspoken connection, the Athenia buridanka died when its Earthen counterpart did. Head On!! Fortress Maximus

Legends comic

Years later, Fortress would reveal to Chromedome that he'd feared becoming Fortress Maximus and intentionally avoided it until the battle with the buridanka forced him to. Bonus Edition Vol. 31

Notes

• The buridanka's name is repeatedly stated in the episode, but never mentioned in any official English subtitles.