Anatomy of Cannabis

Knowledge of the proper name for each part of the Cannabis plant can help one describe problems with a cultivar

Leaves

Types of leaf

Sugar leaves

Small leaves with trichomes that grow from the buds. They are trimmed before the bud is smoked, either before or after drying.

Fan leaves

The largest leaves on the plant dedicated to photosynthesis. In a healthy plant the fan leaves will have 7 fingers

Parts of the leaf

Apex

The pointed tip of a fan leaf

Stomata

Tiny pores in the plant tissue that allow for gas exchange. The majority can be found on the underside of the leaves but they are also found on the stem.

Buds

Cola

A cluster of many buds on the top of a stem. Colas will appear and become larger throughout the flowering stage

Trichromes

Trichomes are resin filled glands that appear on the sugar leaves and buds of Cannabis in the flowering stage. They contain THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. They first appear on the plant as a translucent colour but slowly turn milky white as the plant matures. The opacity indicates the amount of THC in the trichrome. As flowering continues the milky white colour turns to amber as the THC converts into CBD.

Plant body

Node

Points on the steam where lateral branches grow from the main stem. The third node is where the plant begins to develop strong bud producing branches