The Impostor follows contemporary research into the vine Boquila trifoliolata, which can mimic the leaf shapes of other plants around it. The piece blends observational footage of botanist Ernesto Gianoli's research shot on location in Chile with audio interviews with Gianoli, who describes the difficulty of studying truly novel phenomena without projecting human and animal metaphors. When Gianoli first observed Boquila's mimetic abilities in 2014, other scientists jumped to describe the plant's neurology and contended that the plant must have eyes, unconsciously affirming the ancient hierarchies of the Great Chain of Being by assuming that if the plants are intelligent, they must be like animals who are higher on the evolutionary ladder. Gianoli remains resolute that to find the novel mechanism behind Boquila's mimicry, we must appreciate its difference from animals, and refrains from resorting to animal analogies. The film recalls historical predecessors for this type of projection, integrating accounts from early colonists of South America who perceived the flora and fauna they expected, based on fictitious travel accounts, rather than observing the actual plants and creatures present in the region. Drawing on archival media, the film weaves together historical distinctions between plants and animals and the category "Zoophyte" with mythical creatures that were imagined to be part-plant, part- animal like the tartan lamb, a lamb who sprouted out of a cotton plant. The film draws a parallel between the colonial impulse to generalize and contemporary projections of animal abilities onto plants to explore the conditions necessary for understanding truly unprecedented phenomena.