Table of Contents :
Description
The cannabis plant has long thin stems with large, iconic fan leaves that extend from areas called nodes. The plant can grow up to 5 meters tall.
The cannabis plant is recognizable by its special flowers – or buds – where unique and intricate formations occur with fiery orange hairs, sugary crystals and thick buds surrounded by tiny leaves. Although there are three basic strains of cannabis (sativa, indica and ruderalis), all strains have the same structure.
Cannabis seeds
The life of the plant starts with a cannabis seed that germinates. The seed is produced by the female plant and carries the genetics of a male and female.
Ripe seeds have an outer shell covered in dark markings known as tiger stripes which are a thin layer of cells that coat the seed and can be easily rubbed off. Inside the seed is the plant’s embryo which contains everything the plant needs to start a new life once it is planted and cared for.
Read more: Cannabis seed guide
Cotyledon leaves
The cotyledon leaves are the first leaves that grow from the seed after germination. They usually come in pairs and are a sign that the plant is on its way to growing healthy and strong.
The leaves contain all the nutrients the plant needs in the first days of its life.
Cannabis roots
The roots grow into the soil from the plant’s main stem. If the plant grows from a seed (not cloned), the main root is called the “peneroot”. The roots have three main purposes:
- to keep the plant rooted in the substrate.
- to give the plant water and nutrients for growth.
- store starch and sugar produced by photosynthesis.
After the peneroot spreads, fibrous roots branch from it to form an underground root network. Then thick adventitious roots sprout from the stem of the plant; these make it possible to reproduce and clone plants.
Root crown
The root crown, also called the collar or neck, is formed when the stem and roots join. This crown divides upward and downward growth, where the vascular system shifts from the trunk to the roots and where most of the plant’s cell division occurs. The root crown is an extremely important part of the cannabis plant. It usually sits near the surface of the soil, where aeration is at its highest. It can also be transplanted and buried deeper underground to encourage more adventitious roots to sprout.
Cannabis plant strain
The main stem, or stem, of a cannabis plant grows straight up from the root system and supports all side branches. The stem provides a plant structure and stability. It also contains the vascular system that transports nutrients and moisture from the roots to the leaves through xylem cells. It transports starch and sugar from the photosynthesis process to the plant via phloem cells. These phloem cells are harvested for hemp fibers.
Growers often cut the top of the stem after about five nodes, which forces the plant to grow laterally more and create more bud sites.
Branches
Branches grow out of the main stem and support fan leaves and buds. Growers often train a cannabis plant by topping branches to create more bud sites.
Node
A node is a point where a branch grows out of the main trunk, or a branch from another branch. Fan leaves and buds may grow on some nodes, but not necessarily all.
When determining the sex of a cannabis plant, pre-flowers, or the beginnings of male and female reproductive organs, will appear at the nodes.
The distance between nodes is called “internodal distance” and will give you a sense of whether a plant will grow tall or short.
Fan blades
Fan leaves are the large, iconic leaves of the cannabis plant. They trap light for the plant and usually have little or no resin and are usually discarded when trimming.
The size and shape of the fan blades is depend on with strain the plant is. Sativa, Indica, Hybrid and Ruderalis have different fan blades (see illustration).
Sugar leaves
Sugar leaves are the small, resin-coated leaves around which buds form. Sugar leaves are usually stored as “trim” during harvest and can be used for pre-rolls, extracts and other cannabis products.
Flowers
Also known as “buds“, the flowers of a cannabis plant are the fruits of your labor. They contain cannabinoids and terpenes that get you high or provide health benefits. Flowers only grow on female cannabis plants and must be dried before consumption.
Cola
A cola is a “bud site“, where a cluster of buds grow close together. Small colas can be found up and down the low branches, but the main cola (often called the apical bud) almost always sits at the top of the marijuana plant.
Cover sheet
The bracts are what are found around the female’s reproductive area. They are green, with leaves in a kind of “teardrop” shape. They have a number of resin glands, which actually contain the highest number of cannabinoids in the marijuana plant.
Calyx
Inside the bracts, on the female cannabis plant, is the calyx. This is a transparent layer that protects and lies above the ovulation. You cannot see it with the naked eye.
Stigma and pistil
The pistil is where the reproductive parts of the flower sit. They contain many thin hairs that look a bit like hair, called stigmas. They collect pollen that is transported from male plants. The stigmas that can be found inside are white when the plant is young, but eventually turn yellow, orange, red or brown as the plant matures. The stigmas have little or no significance for the strength and taste of the flower.
Trichomes
Despite their diminutive size, it’s hard to miss the carpet of crystal resin on a cannabis bud. This resin is secreted through translucent, mushroom-shaped glands on the leaves, stems and stems.
Plants originally developed trichomes to protect against predators and the elements. These clear bulbous orbs ooze aromatic oils called terpenes, as well as therapeutic cannabinoids like THC and CBD. The basis of hashish production depends on these trichomes and their powerful sugar-like resin.
Sources:
- https://www.leafly.com/learn/growing/marijuana-plant-anatomy
- https://thcdesign.com/blog/cannabis-plant-anatomy/
