For millennia, individuals have harnessed the transformative power of plants and fungi, using substances like ayahuasca, cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, and tobacco in spiritual ceremonies to reshape their perceptions of reality.

Recently, a new book sheds light on these psychoactive and medicinal plants and fungi, revealing their intricacies through advanced microscopy techniques.

Utilizing confocal microscopy, which employs laser scans at varying depths to produce sharply focused images of intricate specimens, this advanced technique is primarily used in academic research.

Jill Pfluber from the University of Kentucky applied confocal microscopy to explore 50 revered plants and fungi across the United States. Her findings contribute to Microcosm: Sacred Plants of the Americas, a publication co-authored with independent historian Stephen F. White.

The outcome is a captivating exploration into the hidden complexities of some of the world’s most esteemed plant species, as explained by White. He emphasizes their goal of creating “plant art” that challenges and enriches people’s understandings of sacred plants. “We aspire for those who encounter Microcosm to develop a newfound respect for these plants,” he states.

From their primary photography, the images present some results of their exploration: Brugmansia Suaveolens; Justicia Pecteris; Virola theiodora; Neltuma pallida; Cannabis; and Theobroma cacao.