From the day that you first germinate your seeds, your cannabis plants will start their journey. Once they enter the flowering stage, they will begin to produce the buds that you will harvest and smoke, but have you ever thought about the anatomy of a cannabis bud?
In this article, I will explain what a cannabis bud is, the key structural components that make up the buds, discuss trichomes, reproductive parts of the plant, and talk about cannabinoids and terpenes.
What is a cannabis bud?
We all know about cannabis buds as far as grinding them up and smoking them are concerned; however, you may not be aware of the biological side of things. Below is an explanation of what cannabis is made from and the importance of cannabis buds.
Defining the bud (inflorescence vs. flower)
Inflorescence describes the floral structure of a plant, whilst the flower refers to a modified shoot with specific notes and internodes. It may not sound very easy to grasp, and it may make you feel like you are back in biology class at school. Still, the easiest way to think about it is that inflorescence represents a cluster of flowers on a branch.
Why buds matter – cannabinoids, terpenes, potency
I think it is fair to say that all cannabis growers are in love with their buds, but what do the buds actually contain that makes them so special? Well, cannabis buds when mature possess all the essential oils, cannabinoids and terpenes that give them their potency, flavour and that smoking experience that we have come to love.
Cannabinoids: The human body contains cannabinoid receptors, and cannabis plants produce cannabinoids such as THC and CBD and plenty more. Scientific research has revealed that there are at least 113 known cannabinoids within a cannabis plant.
Terpenes: Found in fruits, flowers, and cannabis buds, terpenes are what give the buds their unique, complex aromas and flavours. A few examples of the primary cannabinoids associated with cannabis buds are Myrcene, Limonene, Caryophyllene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Linalool, Pinene, Terpinolene and Humulene.
Potency: When cannabinoids and terpenes are combined, we feel the effects of this harmonious relationship as an effect during the smoking experience. Potency can be recognised as being high or stoned.
Key structural components of the bud
If you are anything like me, you have probably spent hours staring and carefully admiring your cannabis buds, mesmerised by their beauty and aroma. Let's take a closer look at precisely what the key structural components of cannabis buds consist of.
Bracts – the resin‑rich protective shells
The bract of a cannabis bud is situated inside the calyx. The bract is the first part of the cannabis bud to develop from week 3 onwards of the flowering period. It is the bract that contains the plant's reproductive organs, as well as the pistil.
Calyx – the hidden protective layer around the ovule
The calyx is what actually produces the trichomes on a cannabis bud, and a cannabis bud will comprise an abundance of calyxes joined together with a compact characteristic. The calyx will have a rounded, pointed, and tear-drop shaped structure, and seeds growing on a cannabis plant will be protected by the calyx.
Sugar leaves – small trichome-dusted leaves for concentrates
When trimming your cannabis plants, you will notice there will be leaves that have either small or large amounts of resin growing on them. Sugar leaves are worth keeping, as they contain fully mature trichomes that contain the same cannabinoids and terpenes as the buds.
The power of trichomes
Without trichomes, cannabis buds would have no taste, aroma or effect. Trichomes are responsible for the impact that we experience when consuming either recreationally or medicinally. Hash makers and extract artists work meticulously to harvest trichomes, which is why hash, rosin, or BHO is considered the gold standard in terms of potency and flavour. Below is a breakdown of the importance of trichomes.
Trichome types – capitate‑stalked, capitate‑sessile, bulbous
Have you ever seen a macro shot of a trichome up close and thought, 'Wow!' Doesn't that look amazing and out of this world? Trichomes come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the genetics of a cannabis plant and what it contains in terms of cannabinoids and terpenes. Below is a breakdown of the different types of trichomes present on a cannabis bud.
Capitate‑stalked
- These trichomes will appear in abundance during the main flowering stage.
- They will be 5 times the size of sessile trichomes.
- It will be the biggest producer of resin when formed on the buds.
- They will be visible to the naked eye and can be seen on buds and leaves.
- The appearance will look like a long neck with a round resin gland on top.
Capitate‑sessile
- These are approximately 75 micrometres in size.
- A magnification tool is required to see them.
- It will begin to appear on plants late in the vegetation.
- It will have a short stalk and produce a big trichome head.
- These trichomes will be found on the calyx.
- Contain a high amount of essential oils, terpenes and cannabinoids.
Bulbous
- These are the first resin glands to turn amber when inspected.
- The smallest of all the trichomes found on a cannabis plant.
- They will be primarily present on stems and leaves.
- A magnification tool is required to see bulbous trichomes up close.
- It will have a tiny neck and a swollen, rounded resin head when mature.
Role in cannabinoid and terpene production
If you have grown your own indoor cannabis plants before, you will have found that when touching the buds, your fingers become sticky. The reason is that the essential oils found inside the trichomes are present on your skin, and the trichome head is the most desirable part of a cannabis bud.
Trichomes are what contain everything that makes a cannabis plant unique, and thanks to genetic diversity, allow us to experience so many different flavours and effects. As trichomes develop and mature over the flowering cycle, cannabinoid content and terpene production become more enhanced, which is why harvesting cannabis plants early has a significant effect on the taste, aroma, and potency.
Visual maturity – clear, cloudy, amber stages
When it comes to harvesting your cannabis plants, there will be a range of signs to look out for. These will range from bud density, resin production, pistil colour, the estimated flowering time provided by the breeder, and trichome maturity.
You will need to use a magnification tool to inspect the trichomes up close, allowing for a closer look at their colour and stage of maturity. Cannabis trichomes will have either a transparent, cloudy or amber appearance, with each representing a different stage of development.
Clear trichomes indicate that the cannabinoids and terpenes are not yet fully developed and require additional time to mature. You will notice that the majority of the trichomes on a plant are clear from around week 6-7 of the flowering period. If harvested at this stage, the level of potency may be lacking, and the effects will be more cerebral, producing no physical impact associated with couch lock.
Milky trichomes represent the stage when their buds are nearly fully developed. When using a magnification tool, the trichome glands appear cloudy or milky in appearance. Many growers find that milky trichomes indicate the plants are ready to harvest. However, you prefer an effect with a heavy physical impact. In that case, it is best advised to wait until the trichomes are cloudy with hints of amber.
Amber trichomes indicate that the plant is as mature as it can be, and it should not be left any longer. Generally, there will be an 80/20 ratio of milky to amber-coloured trichomes during the pinnacle harvest window, ensuring a well-balanced effect between cerebral and heavy-bodied.
Reproductive parts: pistils, stigmas, and the cola
Before a cannabis plant produces buds, it will have the opportunity to become pollinated and produce seeds. The reproductive parts of a cannabis plant consist of pistils, stigmas and the cola as explained below.
Pistils and stigmas
Once you change your timers to 12/12, you will begin to notice white hair-like structures, which are known as pistils. This will be the first indication that your cannabis plant is, in fact, female. Later, the pistils begin to take on a fuzzy appearance. Under closer examination, they produce tiny strands known as stigmas.
Like any flower, the stigmas' role is to catch airborne pollen, allowing the plant to reproduce. Of course, when growing indoor cannabis, the goal is to keep any male pollen away from your female plants and produce a seedless crop. When a pistil contains pollen, within 24 hours, the white hair will change to orange or brown, indicating fertilisation has taken place.
Cola
Cannabis plants are apically dominant species, so they will naturally grow what is known as an apical bud, or main cola. The cola is simply a cluster of buds that form the highest point of a cannabis plant's canopy during the flowering period.
Seed vs. sinsemilla buds
Depending on what your ambitions are when growing cannabis, your main goal and objective will be to either produce only buds for smoking or produce cannabis seeds. Breeders will work with either male and female plants to produce regular sexed seeds, or in the process of feminisation, will reverse a female plant to create only female progeny. Sinsemilla is a term that refers to a plant that has not been pollinated and contains no seeds.
Chemical profile: cannabinoids and terpenes in the bud
Suppose you have ever been to a social club in Spain or a coffee shop in Amsterdam. In that case, you will have seen an extensive menu comprising 10-15 different varieties of cannabis buds on offer. The reason there are so many different strains available to tourists, and why seed companies boast of up to 20 varieties in their seed catalogues, is due to the chemical profiles of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the plant's genetic makeup, as explained below.
Major cannabinoids
From scientific research, we know that there are at least 113 different cannabinoids within cannabis buds. Here you will find a list of 10 of the most commonly found cannabinoids.
- Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Cannabichromene (CBC)
- Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC)
- Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
- Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
- Cannabicyclol (CBL)
- Cannabielsoin (CBE)
Terpene diversity
Terpenes are what give plants, trees and cannabis their aroma. Below is a list of the most commonly found terpenes in cannabis buds.
- Alpha-Bisabolol
- Alpha-Humulene
- Alpha-Pinene
- Alpha-Terpinene
- Beta-Caryophyllene
- Beta-Myrcene
- Beta-Pinene
- Caryophyllene Oxide
- Eucalyptol
- Limonene
- Linalool
- Nerolidol
Entourage effect
The entourage effect refers to the synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes and how, together, they are responsible for the effects experienced when using cannabis. When terpenes or cannabinoids are isolated, they do not possess the same therapeutic and medicinal effects as when combined.
