What type of literary device does as if indicate in this sentence Maria enthusiastically picked the flowers they were made gold?

The phrase "as if" in the sentence "Maria enthusiastically picked the flowers they were made of gold" indicates a simile.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as." In this case, the sentence is implying that the flowers were so beautiful and bright that they seemed to be made of gold.

While the sentence is grammatically incorrect ("they were made of gold"), the intended meaning is clear and highlights the use of the simile.