The Prodigious Plant That Can See and Simultaneously Mimic the Leaves of Surrounding Species Without Physical Contact

In the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina, a vine challenges everything we think we know about the plant world. This is Boquila trifoliata (or trifoliolata), popularly known as the South American vine, an extraordinary plant with an unprecedented ability: the capacity to mimic the leaves of other species around it. Nicknamed the chameleon vine, it is the only known case of polymorphic mimicry in the plant kingdom, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists and remains shrouded in mystery to this day.

Boquila trifoliata is a perennial vine of the Lardizabalaceae family that grows in the humid forests of southern Chile and Argentina. Its natural habitat ranges from 100 to 600 meters above sea level, preferring shaded environments with humus-rich soils. It is not a parasitic plant, as it does not extract nutrients from the trees it climbs. Instead, it uses their structure as support, clinging with slender stems to reach sunlight.

But what is truly astonishing about this plant is its ability to modify the shape, size, texture, and even color of its leaves to resemble those of the tree species surrounding it. This phenomenon, known as polymorphic mimicry, is unique in the plant world. Other plants can imitate a single tree species throughout their lives, but B. trifoliata can transform simultaneously to mimic different species as it intertwines with them.

The case of Boquila trifoliata has fascinated and sparked debate since 2014, when scientists Ernesto Gianoli and Fernando Carrasco-Urra published a study in the journal Current Biology documenting its astonishing mimicry ability. What most amazed researchers was that the plant does not need to be in physical contact with a tree to begin mimicking its leaves. It is enough for it to grow near a particular species for its leaves to start transforming.

So far, there is no definitive explanation as to how B. trifoliata achieves this natural wonder. However, scientists have proposed several hypotheses:

Chemical Signals in the Air

One of the most accepted theories suggests that the vine detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the surrounding trees. These compounds are used by many plants to communicate with their neighbors, alerting them to herbivore attacks or environmental changes. The idea is that B. trifoliata might be “reading” these chemical signals to identify its host and adapt its foliage accordingly.

The problem with this hypothesis is that, while VOCs can induce defensive responses in other plants, there has never been a documented case where they cause such drastic morphological changes in a species.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Another possibility is that the plant is incorporating genetic material from its hosts through endophytic microbes. In some cases, it has been shown that certain microorganisms can facilitate horizontal gene transfer between plant species. If B. trifoliata had a similar mechanism, it might be “acquiring” temporary genetic information from the trees it mimics.

However, this hypothesis also has drawbacks. Horizontal gene transfer usually takes a long time and occurs in isolated events, whereas B. trifoliata can modify its appearance in a matter of weeks.

Can the Plant See?

In 2021, a study published in the journal Plant Signaling & Behavior proposed an even more radical hypothesis: that B. trifoliata might possess a primitive form of vision. Based on previous research on eye-like structures in some plant organisms, the study’s authors suggest that the plant could be detecting light reflected by the leaves of its hosts and adjusting its growth to mimic their shape.

This idea has been met with skepticism by the scientific community, but if confirmed, it would completely change our understanding of perception in plants.

Why Mimic? The Benefit of Deception

The mimicry ability of Boquila trifoliata is not just an aesthetic trick—it provides key evolutionary advantages. Imitating the appearance of other plants allows it to reduce the risk of being eaten by herbivores, in a phenomenon known as Batesian mimicry. By resembling less palatable or toxic species, it can avoid being devoured.

In field experiments, researchers observed that the leaves of B. trifoliata that mimicked a specific tree suffered significantly less damage from insects and other predators compared to leaves that were not undergoing mimicry. This defense mechanism could explain why evolution has favored this astonishing ability in the vine.

Despite advances in research, the case of Boquila trifoliata remains an enigma. None of the proposed hypotheses have been conclusively confirmed, and experiments continue in search of answers. Is it possible that other plants possess similar abilities, yet to be discovered? Could B. trifoliata teach us new forms of communication in the plant kingdom?

Scientists have much work ahead, but one thing is certain: the chameleon vine reminds us that nature always has surprises in store, waiting to be uncovered by those willing to look closely.

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This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on March 6, 2025: La prodigiosa planta que puede ver e imita simultáneamente las hojas de las especies que la rodean sin contacto físico

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