Lesson plan
Boquila
Boquila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lardizabalaceae, endemic to temperate forests of central and southern Chile and Argentina. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Boquila trifoliolata, locally known as voqui blanco or pilpil in its native range, or the chameleon vine since a 2014 report on leaf mimicry. The species was first described in 1782 by Juan Ignacio Molina, and the genus was established in 1839 by Joseph Decaisne. B. trifoliolata forms non-parasitic vines that wind around host plants, using them for structure and protection. B. trifoliolata is monoecious, a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. Its flowers are off-white and it bears an edible fruit. The vine has been historically used in rope and basket making. Boquila trifoliolata is the only known plant species that engages in mimetic polymorphism, or the ability to mimic multiple host species, often simultaneously. This is a form of Batesian mimicry, when a harmless species mimics a harmful one to ward off predators. Contact between the vines and host trees was reported not to be necessary for mimicking to commence. However, in the decade following the original study describing the species mimicry capabilities in 2014, no independent research groups have verified the field observations.…
Article summary
Boquila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lardizabalaceae, endemic to temperate forests of central and southern Chile and Argentina. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Boquila trifoliolata, locally known as voqui blanco or pilpil in its native range, or the chameleon vine since a 2014 report on leaf mimicry. The species was first described in 1782 by Juan Ignacio Molina, and the genus was established in 1839 by Joseph Decaisne. B. trifoliolata forms non-parasitic vines that wind around host plants, using them for structure and protection. B. trifoliolata is monoecious, a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. Its flowers are off-white and it bears an edible fruit. The vine has been historically used in rope and basket making. Boquila trifoliolata is the only known plant species that engages in mimetic polymorphism, or the ability to mimic multiple host species, often simultaneously. This is a form of Batesian mimicry, when a harmless species mimics a harmful one to ward off predators. Contact between the vines and host trees was reported not to be necessary for mimicking to commence. However, in the decade following the original study describing the species mimicry capabilities in 2014, no independent research groups have verified the field observations.…
Key claims
- date of establishment: 1839 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- The record states that the date of establishment is "1839". What evidence would count against this claim?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374262114
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.