Cannabis (also known as pot, marijuana or weed) and its extracts (hash, oil, etc.), comes from the plant species known as Cannabis sativa. Let’s try to explain the anatomy and the parts of this plant.
Difference between a male and a female plant
Cannabis is a dioecious plant, which means that it is a species composed of male and female plants. The female plants produce flowers which are then dried and used for recreational or medicinal purposes. These dried flowers are also called “buds” and contain cannabinoids in sufficient quantity to create a psychotropic or therapeutic effect during consumption.
Male plants are used for reproduction by pollinating the female plants in order to produce seeds.
The cannabis flower
Also called “buds”, cannabis flowers vary in shape and size depending on the cannabis species. The flower is the part of the plant that contains the highest concentration of cannabinoids. This is why this part of the plant is the most commonly consumed by those who seek the effects attributed to cannabis! Once dried, flowers are consumed for recreational or medicinal purposes by either smoking them in a joint or a pipe, or by vaporizing them using a vaporizer. Cannabis flowers can also be used to produce cannabis extracts after subjecting the substance to the adequate process.
Trichomes
Trichomes are small crystals that can be seen all over the plant, including on the flowers and the leaves. They contain varying amounts of different cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Trichomes are resinous and protect the plant from certain insects and fungi. Despite their small size, trichomes are extremely useful to the plants and vital to their survival!
The leaves
The cannabis leaf no longer needs any introduction. It is easily recognizable by its serrated tips. The size and shape of the cannabis leaves vary depending on the strain of cannabis plant.
The pistils
The pistils are found only on the female plants. They are shaped like small orange, white or red hairs. The pistils catch pollen from male plants and play a crucial role in reproduction.
The roots
The roots of the cannabis plant are of great importance at SUMO. The technique of culture chosen by the team being aeroponics, roots are the core of our production (read the complete article on aeroponics here). Aeroponics consists in spraying roots with water and nutrient solutions. It is a soilless culture. The roots of the plants are white and do not emit any particular smell.
You now know everything there is to know about cannabis plants (almost)!