Leaf, Bud, and Flower stages.
Pikmin Stages are the power levels of speed. The order of slowest to fastest is as: Leaf, Bud, Flower. The ways to increase a pikmin's Stage is by getting pikmin to nectar (Flower), Leaving it in ground (Bud or Flower), or using Spicy Spray in Pikmin 3 (Flower). The ways the deflower is by being shaken off a bunch, or getting thrown in ground by a Swooping or Bumbling Snitchbug.