Boquila trifoliolata

Dare I stand too close to the lovely Boquila

In forests of temperate climates far and wide

Sultry seeking, supple vines wrapping, trapping

Teasing and tantalizingly mimicking my form

Ripe boguila berries tempt me with their succulence

As I support boquila, it steals my form, invading my true body

Choose, you mimetic polymorphic flowery leaves

To be like me, or be yourself

If being a phenomenon is your goal, then be you

Or be the round edged trifoliolata with lovely light green leaves

Nestled in her mimicry, always reaching. Reaching...

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Boquila is a monotypic genus of flowering plants, native to temperate forests of central and southern Chile and Argentina. The sole species is Boquila trifoliolata. 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.

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. 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.

This plant's climbing behavior protects it from ground-dwelling herbivores, and leaf mimicry is a protection against leaf herbivores. 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

Boquila, unlike other plants capable of mimicry, does not require physical contact to match its host.

Nature is such an amazingly beautiful distraction. Plants in the wild only need sunlight, water and fertile soil to dazzle us with extraordinary colors in beautiful shades and glorious varieties of life.

(Apparently they can also be shapeshifters).