Ernesto Gianoli and Fernando Carrasco-Urra from the University of Concepción in Chile have recently achieved the semi-impossible: they've become famous because of a botanical discovery!
The two researchers have published the first record of a plant that can imitate several hosts. Boquila trifoliolata is the only member of the Boquila genus and is a native vine of Chile and Argentina. It is common, vigorous climber with fluted, hairy stems. The most interesting feature of this plant is definitely its ability to grow leaves that match the shape and size of the nearest plant - usually its host!
The two researchers have published the first record of a plant that can imitate several hosts. Boquila trifoliolata is the only member of the Boquila genus and is a native vine of Chile and Argentina. It is common, vigorous climber with fluted, hairy stems. The most interesting feature of this plant is definitely its ability to grow leaves that match the shape and size of the nearest plant - usually its host!
Boquila trifoliolata. Photo: Diego Alarcon.
The leaves of this vine 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 colour. Boquila’s leaves can even grow a spiny tip when, and only when, it climbs onto a shrub with spine-tipped leaves.
“There are some leaf features that are too hard to copy, such as serrated leaf margins,” says Gianoli. “It is common to see cases where Boquila “did her best”, and attained some resemblance, but did not really meet the goal.”
The same vine can even mimic several trees! If it crosses from one plant to another, its leaves change accordingly.
“There are some leaf features that are too hard to copy, such as serrated leaf margins,” says Gianoli. “It is common to see cases where Boquila “did her best”, and attained some resemblance, but did not really meet the goal.”
The same vine can even mimic several trees! If it crosses from one plant to another, its leaves change accordingly.
Blue arrows: host plant, Red arrows: mimic vine. Photo: Ernesto Gianoli.
It is not yet clear why or how this species makes these changes. The authors have suggested that it may be avoiding herbivore predators and may utilise airborne chemicals or gene transfer to get the blueprint for the leaf features of their host plant. Its all a bit mind-blowing and exciting, whatever the mechanism. I wonder if there is anything in New Zealand doing this without us noticing?!
Mimicry of host trees (T) by the vine (V) Boquila trifoliolata. Image: Science News.
One case of possible NZ plant mimicry has been noticed in matukuroimata (Alseuosmia pusilla), a fairly common forest shrub that appears to be mimicking the famous horopito, or pepper tree (Pseudowintera colorata). These plants are not at all related but often look very similar. It is thought that the matukuroimata is avoiding herbivore browsers my copying the threatening red tinges of the spicy horopito. Click here to read more.
The mimic, matukuroimata (Alseuosmia pusilla). The leaves are often even more red than this. Photo: Phil Bendle.
The original, horopito (Pseudowintera colorata). Photo: Phil Bendle.
A real kiwi bushman from Northland once showed us some Alseuosmia that were mimicking other shrub species including the long leaves of horoeka and mahoe. I don't have any photos sorry so I guess that one will have to remain a mystery until more investigations are done!
Some wording in this blog came from the excellent Ed Yong at National Geographic.
Some wording in this blog came from the excellent Ed Yong at National Geographic.
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