Boquila is a monotypicgenus of flowering plants in the family Lardizabalaceae,[2] native to temperate forests of central and southern Chile and Argentina. The sole species is Boquila trifoliolata (DC.) Decne., called pilpil, voqui, voquicillo, voquillo, and voqui blanco in Chile. It grows vines that wrap around host plants, mimicking the host's leaves in a phenomenon called mimetic polymorphism.[3] It bears an edible fruit (Boquila berries).
This species has been shown to be capable of mimicking the leaves of its supporting trees.[4]
Ernesto Gianoli said "Boquila's leaves are extraordinarily diverse. The biggest ones can be 10 times bigger than the smallest, and they can vary from very light to very dark. In around three-quarters of cases, they are similar to the closest leaf from another tree, matching it in size, area, length of stalk, angle, and color. Boquila's leaves can even grow a spiny tip when, and only when, it climbs onto a shrub with spine-tipped leaves."[5] When there are no nearby host leaves to influence them, the normal leaves of B. trifoliolata are relatively short and light green with rounded edges.[6]
Boquila, unlike other plants capable of mimicry, does not require physical contact to match its host.[7]
Mimicry
Boquila trifoliolata is unique because of the ability of its leaves to mimic those of the hosts that are supporting them, a phenomenon called mimetic polymorphism.[8] This plant's climbing behavior protects it from ground-dwelling herbivores, and leaf mimicry is a protection against leaf herbivores.[9]B. trifoliolata differs from other plants that can mimic a host, like the Australian mistletoe, because it is not limited to mimicking a single host and because it is not a parasite to the host tree. An individual B. trifoliolata vine can mimic multiple kinds of foliage that are closest in proximity to it.[10]
Their mimicking behavior was discovered by researchers Ernesto Gianoli and Fernando Carrasco-Urra. They carried out observations and measurements in a rainforest located at Puyehue National Park in southern Chile. They sampled 12 different species of host trees with 45 total individual B. trifoliolata vines that had climbed these trees. The two closest leaves in proximity between a pair of the 45-vine trees were measured, 11 different traits in total: angle, thickness, petiole length, leaflet petiole length, leaflet angle, maximum width, maximum length, area, perimeter, area/perimeter, and color. Usage of a generalized linear model showed that 9 of the 11 traits demonstrated mimicry by the vine to its host tree. Gianoli et al. also sampled more individuals that were prostrated, that grew on leafless tree trunks, and more individuals that have climbed on the 8 most common host species. To analyze these samples, the researchers used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). They found that the prostrate individuals were not different from the leafless-host vines, but that they were different for 7 of the 8 common-host vine leaves. They also concluded that the leafless-host vines were different for 6 of the 8 common-host vines. Moreover, this leaf mimicry served as a protection against leaf herbivores and led to lower leaf herbivory rates. Climbing vines had no difference in herbivory compared to supporting host tree leaves but had much lower herbivory compared to prostrated, unsupported B. trifoliolata individuals. The highest amount of herbivory was on B. trifoliolata vines that climbed onto leafless hosts.[11]
Currently, there is no known mechanism for how B. trifoliolata is able to mimic host leaves so well, but Gianoli proposes two possible mechanisms. One hypothesis is that volatile organic compounds emitted from host plant leaves induce a phenotypic change in nearby B. trifoliolata leaves. By receiving different host signals into its system, it is able to create specific signals and hormones in its tissues to regulate gene transcription of leaf morphology and developmental pathways for leaf differentiation.[12] The other hypothesis is that there could be horizontal gene transfer between the host and B. trifoliolata. A separate study also conducted by Gianoli et al. suggests that bacterial agents, which could mediate a horizontal gene transfer, may play a role in leaf mimicry by B. trifoliolata. A comparison of endophytic bacterial communities among leaves from a host tree, B. trifoliolata leaves mimicking the host tree leaves, and non-mimetic B. trifoliolata leaves from the same vine revealed that the bacterial communities were more similar among mimetic B. trifoliolata and host leaves than among non-mimetic B. trifoliolata and host leaves.[13]
In a 2021 paper, it was suggested that the plant has some sort of vision using ocelli. This hypothesis was presented on the basis of experiments in which the vine appeared to mimic plastic vines and artificial plants. However, the only control used was the lower leaves on the same plants, with an opaque shelf over them which could have influenced light exposure. The lack of control plants climbing anything apart from the same model of artificial host plant makes it plausible that the observed differences were due to age and light exposure.[14]
See also
Lardizabala, a related species also grown for its fruit
References
^"The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
^SB Hoot, A Culham, PR Crane, 1995. The utility of atpB gene sequences in resolving phylogenetic relationships: comparison with rbcL and 18S ribosomal DNA sequences in the Lardizabalaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 194-207
^Gianoli, Ernesto; Carrasco-Urra, Fernando (2014). "Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory". Current Biology. 24 (9): P984-987. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.010. PMID 24768053.
^Ed Yong (24 April 2014). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2017-08-23. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
^. Phenomena. 2016-02-19. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
^Ed Yong (24 April 2014). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2017-08-23. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^Yirka, Bob (2014-04-28). "Researchers Discover Vine that is Able to Mimic Multiple Hosts". Retrieved 2020-01-19.
^Gianoli, Ernesto; Carrasco-Urra, Fernando (2014). "Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory". Current Biology. 24 (9): P984-987. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.010. PMID 24768053.
^Pannell, John R. (2014). "Leaf Mimicry: Chameleon-like Leaves in a Patagonian Vine". Current Biology. 24 (9): R357–R359. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.066. PMID 24801183.
^Gianoli, Ernesto; Carrasco-Urra, Fernando (2014). "Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory". Current Biology. 24 (9): P984-987. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.010. PMID 24768053.
^Bar, Maya; Ori, Naomi (2014-11-15). "Leaf development and morphogenesis". Development. 141 (22): 4219–4230. doi:10.1242/dev.106195. ISSN 0950-1991. PMID 25371359.
^Gianoli, Ernesto; González-Teuber, Marcia; Vilo, Claudia; Guevara-Araya, María J; Escobedo, Víctor M (2021-11-22). "Endophytic bacterial communities are associated with leaf mimicry in the vine Boquila trifoliolata". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 22673. Bibcode:2021NatSR..1122673G. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-02229-8. PMC8608808. PMID 34811460.
^White, Jacob; Yamashita, Felipe (2021-09-21). "Boquila trifoliolata mimics leaves of an artificial plastic host plant". Plant Signaling & Behavior. 17 (1): 1977530. doi:10.1080/15592324.2021.1977530. ISSN 1559-2324. PMC8903786. PMID 34545774.
Media related to Boquila at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Boquila at Wikispecies
March 10, 2023
boquila, confused, with, boquillas, monotypic, genus, flowering, plants, family, lardizabalaceae, native, temperate, forests, central, southern, chile, argentina, sole, species, trifoliolata, decne, called, pilpil, voqui, voquicillo, voquillo, voqui, blanco, c. Not to be confused with Boquillas Boquila is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Lardizabalaceae 2 native to temperate forests of central and southern Chile and Argentina The sole species is Boquila trifoliolata DC Decne called pilpil voqui voquicillo voquillo and voqui blanco in Chile It grows vines that wrap around host plants mimicking the host s leaves in a phenomenon called mimetic polymorphism 3 It bears an edible fruit Boquila berries BoquilaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder RanunculalesFamily LardizabalaceaeGenus BoquilaDecne Species B trifoliolataBinomial nameBoquila trifoliolata DC Decne Synonyms 1 Boquila discolor Kunze ex Poepp amp Endl Decne Dolichos funarius Molina Lardizabala funaria Molina Looser Lardizabala trifoliolata DC This species has been shown to be capable of mimicking the leaves of its supporting trees 4 Ernesto Gianoli said Boquila s leaves are extraordinarily diverse The biggest ones can be 10 times bigger than the smallest and they can vary from very light to very dark In around three quarters of cases they are similar to the closest leaf from another tree matching it in size area length of stalk angle and color Boquila s leaves can even grow a spiny tip when and only when it climbs onto a shrub with spine tipped leaves 5 When there are no nearby host leaves to influence them the normal leaves of B trifoliolata are relatively short and light green with rounded edges 6 Boquila unlike other plants capable of mimicry does not require physical contact to match its host 7 Mimicry EditBoquila trifoliolata is unique because of the ability of its leaves to mimic those of the hosts that are supporting them a phenomenon called mimetic polymorphism 8 This plant s climbing behavior protects it from ground dwelling herbivores and leaf mimicry is a protection against leaf herbivores 9 B trifoliolata differs from other plants that can mimic a host like the Australian mistletoe because it is not limited to mimicking a single host and because it is not a parasite to the host tree An individual B trifoliolata vine can mimic multiple kinds of foliage that are closest in proximity to it 10 Their mimicking behavior was discovered by researchers Ernesto Gianoli and Fernando Carrasco Urra They carried out observations and measurements in a rainforest located at Puyehue National Park in southern Chile They sampled 12 different species of host trees with 45 total individual B trifoliolata vines that had climbed these trees The two closest leaves in proximity between a pair of the 45 vine trees were measured 11 different traits in total angle thickness petiole length leaflet petiole length leaflet angle maximum width maximum length area perimeter area perimeter and color Usage of a generalized linear model showed that 9 of the 11 traits demonstrated mimicry by the vine to its host tree Gianoli et al also sampled more individuals that were prostrated that grew on leafless tree trunks and more individuals that have climbed on the 8 most common host species To analyze these samples the researchers used multivariate analysis of variance MANOVA They found that the prostrate individuals were not different from the leafless host vines but that they were different for 7 of the 8 common host vine leaves They also concluded that the leafless host vines were different for 6 of the 8 common host vines Moreover this leaf mimicry served as a protection against leaf herbivores and led to lower leaf herbivory rates Climbing vines had no difference in herbivory compared to supporting host tree leaves but had much lower herbivory compared to prostrated unsupported B trifoliolata individuals The highest amount of herbivory was on B trifoliolata vines that climbed onto leafless hosts 11 Currently there is no known mechanism for how B trifoliolata is able to mimic host leaves so well but Gianoli proposes two possible mechanisms One hypothesis is that volatile organic compounds emitted from host plant leaves induce a phenotypic change in nearby B trifoliolata leaves By receiving different host signals into its system it is able to create specific signals and hormones in its tissues to regulate gene transcription of leaf morphology and developmental pathways for leaf differentiation 12 The other hypothesis is that there could be horizontal gene transfer between the host and B trifoliolata A separate study also conducted by Gianoli et al suggests that bacterial agents which could mediate a horizontal gene transfer may play a role in leaf mimicry by B trifoliolata A comparison of endophytic bacterial communities among leaves from a host tree B trifoliolata leaves mimicking the host tree leaves and non mimetic B trifoliolata leaves from the same vine revealed that the bacterial communities were more similar among mimetic B trifoliolata and host leaves than among non mimetic B trifoliolata and host leaves 13 In a 2021 paper it was suggested that the plant has some sort of vision using ocelli This hypothesis was presented on the basis of experiments in which the vine appeared to mimic plastic vines and artificial plants However the only control used was the lower leaves on the same plants with an opaque shelf over them which could have influenced light exposure The lack of control plants climbing anything apart from the same model of artificial host plant makes it plausible that the observed differences were due to age and light exposure 14 See also EditLardizabala a related species also grown for its fruitReferences Edit The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species Retrieved June 19 2014 SB Hoot A Culham PR Crane 1995 The utility of atpB gene sequences in resolving phylogenetic relationships comparison with rbcL and 18S ribosomal DNA sequences in the Lardizabalaceae Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 194 207 ScienceShot Chameleon Vine Discovered in Chile Science AAAS 2014 04 24 Retrieved 2018 06 02 Gianoli Ernesto Carrasco Urra Fernando 2014 Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory Current Biology 24 9 P984 987 doi 10 1016 j cub 2014 03 010 PMID 24768053 Ed Yong 24 April 2014 The Most Versatile Impressionist In the Forest National Geographic Archived from the original on 2017 08 23 Retrieved 21 February 2016 The Sneaky Life of the World s Most Mysterious Plant Phenomena 2016 02 19 Archived from the original on 2017 07 01 Retrieved 2018 06 02 Ed Yong 24 April 2014 The Most Versatile Impressionist In the Forest National Geographic Archived from the original on 2017 08 23 Retrieved 21 March 2017 Yirka Bob 2014 04 28 Researchers Discover Vine that is Able to Mimic Multiple Hosts Retrieved 2020 01 19 Gianoli Ernesto Carrasco Urra Fernando 2014 Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory Current Biology 24 9 P984 987 doi 10 1016 j cub 2014 03 010 PMID 24768053 Pannell John R 2014 Leaf Mimicry Chameleon like Leaves in a Patagonian Vine Current Biology 24 9 R357 R359 doi 10 1016 j cub 2014 03 066 PMID 24801183 Gianoli Ernesto Carrasco Urra Fernando 2014 Leaf Mimicry in a Climbing Plant Protects against Herbivory Current Biology 24 9 P984 987 doi 10 1016 j cub 2014 03 010 PMID 24768053 Bar Maya Ori Naomi 2014 11 15 Leaf development and morphogenesis Development 141 22 4219 4230 doi 10 1242 dev 106195 ISSN 0950 1991 PMID 25371359 Gianoli Ernesto Gonzalez Teuber Marcia Vilo Claudia Guevara Araya Maria J Escobedo Victor M 2021 11 22 Endophytic bacterial communities are associated with leaf mimicry in the vine Boquila trifoliolata Scientific Reports 11 1 22673 Bibcode 2021NatSR 1122673G doi 10 1038 s41598 021 02229 8 PMC 8608808 PMID 34811460 White Jacob Yamashita Felipe 2021 09 21 Boquila trifoliolata mimics leaves of an artificial plastic host plant Plant Signaling amp Behavior 17 1 1977530 doi 10 1080 15592324 2021 1977530 ISSN 1559 2324 PMC 8903786 PMID 34545774 Media related to Boquila at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Boquila at Wikispecies 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