Boquila Trifoliolata

Boquila is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Lardizabalaceae, 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. It bears an edible fruit (Boquila berries). This species has been shown to be capable of mimicking the leaves of its supporting trees.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're 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." 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.Boquila, unlike other plants capable of mimicry, does not require physical contact to match its host.

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