We’ll Bet You Didn’t Know Marijuana Looks This Beautiful Up Close [Photos]

Alpha Blue Credit: (Green: A Field Guide to Marijuana)

Though a number of states and countries have legalized the recreational use of marijuana in recent years, the herb is still taboo in many locations. This is a shame, considering that cannabis can be utilized to produce everything, from medicine and paper to industrial building materials and clothing.

Marijuana might not be understood by all, but what the majority might be able to agree on is that up close, the herb looks extraordinarily beautiful.

At first glance, a green bud looks unassuming and boring. But when one uses a microscope to zoom in, they are dazzled by the multitude of colors, textures, and microscopic furs of the plant.

And, when one scrolls through the photos below, they’ll likely understand why photographer Erik Christiansen has spent numerous hours capturing macro photographs of the hypnotic flowers. In partnership with Dan Michaels, the pair published Green: A Field Guide to Marijuana which showcases 170 marijuana strains.

In addition to featuring captivating images of marijuana buds, the “stoner encyclopedia” relays each strain’s lineage, smell, taste and effects. According to Huff Post, the book is a “visual guide for curious, sophisticated pot smokers.”

One doesn’t even need to smoke cannabis to appreciate the vibrancy of the buds, which follow: