The answer to this question may seem simple, but it’s actually quite complex. The name of the place where the branches meet the stem on cannabis plants is called the node. But there’s more to it than that. Keep reading to learn all about the node and its importance to the cannabis plant.
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The Cannabis Plant
The cannabis plant is a flowering plant that has many different parts including the stem, leaves, flowers, and buds. The stem is the part of the plant that the leaves and flowers grow from. The main stem typically has smaller branches coming off of it. The main stem and branches are covered in a green, sticky substance called resin.
The Different Parts of the Cannabis Plant
leaves – The leaves of the cannabis plant are what people typically think of when they think of marijuana leaves. They are long, thin, and narrow with a serrated edge. They are green in color and grow in opposite pairs on the stem.
branches – The branches of the cannabis plant are where the leaves and flowers grow. They are typically green in color, but can also be brown or red.
stalks – The stalks of the cannabis plant are the parts that connect the leaves and flowers to the main stem. They are usually green in color, but can also be brown or red.
flowers – The flowers of the cannabis plant are where the buds form. They are typically white or pale green in color and grow in clusters on the branches.
buds – The buds of the cannabis plant are what people smoke when they use marijuana. They are typically green in color with a frosty coating of trichomes.
The Stem
The stem is the main support structure of the cannabis plant. It is typically green and can vary in thickness. The length of the stem also varies based on the variety of plant. The stem is where the leaves and flowers are attached. The stem also contains the xylem and phloem, which transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.
The Leaves
The leaves of the cannabis plant are palmately compound or digitate, with serrate leaflets. The first pair of leaves usually have a single leaflet, the number gradually increasing up to a maximum of about thirteen leaflets per leaf (usually seven or nine), depending on variety and growing conditions. At the top of a flowering plant, this number again diminishes to a single leaflet per leaf. The lower leaf pairs usually occur in an opposite leaf arrangement and the upper leaf pairs in an alternate arrangement on the main stem of a mature plant.
Leaves are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They can be green, red, purple, blue, or even pink. Some have colors that change as the plant matures. The color depends on many factors including genetics, environment (including climate and light), and soil nutrients.
The Flowers
§The flowers of the Cannabis plant are both male and female, with the males usually outnumbering the females. The male flowers produce pollen that is used to fertilize the females, who then produce the buds that are harvested for their smokable leaves and/or resinous glands (trichomes).
The Roots
The roots of a cannabis plant anchor it in the soil and absorb water and nutrients to help the plant grow. The main root, called the taproot, can grow up to a foot long in some cases. The taproot is surrounded by smaller, thinner roots called lateral roots. Lateral roots branch out from the taproot to form an expansive root system that can absorb even more water and nutrients from the soil. A cannabis plant’s root system can extend several feet from the base of the plant.
The Trichomes
The trichomes are the part of the cannabis plant that produces the resin. This resin contains the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that give cannabis its unique properties. Trichomes can be found on the leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant.
The Different Types of Trichomes
Cannabis trichomes are tiny, hairlike appendages on the surface of the plant that produce the resinous cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that make cannabis so special. These chemical compounds are what give each cannabis strain its unique aroma, flavor, and effects.
Under a microscope, trichomes look like tiny mushrooms with a round head and a long stalk. The size and shape of the head can vary depending on the type of trichome. The three main types of trichomes found on cannabis plants are bulbous, capitate-sessile, and capitate-stalked.
Bulbous trichomes are the smallest type of cannabis trichome and can only be seen with a high-powered microscope. These tiny trichomes don’t produce much resin and are mostly found on the plant’s leaves.
Capitate-sessile trichomes are slightly larger than bulbous trichomes and have a round head that is attached directly to the plant’s surface. These trichomes are more abundant than bulbous trichomes and are responsible for producing most of the cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis.
Capitate-stalked trichomes are the largest type of cannabis trichome and can be seen with the naked eye. These glandular heads are attached to long stalks that protrude from the plant’s surface. Capitate-stalked trichomes aren’t as common as other types of trichomes but they produce large amounts of resin.
The Function of Trichomes
Cannabis plants are covered in tiny crystal-like structures called trichomes. These tiny structures are found on the plant’s leaves, flowers, and stems. They are most concentrated on the flowers, or buds. The main function of trichomes is to produce and store cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Cannabinoids are the molecules in cannabis that are responsible for its effects on the human body. Trichomes also produce other molecules that give cannabis its unique smell and flavor.
The Importance of Trichomes
Cannabis plants are covered in tiny, hairlike structures called trichomes. These trichomes produce the vast majority of the plant’s cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. The cannabinoids produced by trichomes play an important role in the plant’s defense against predators such as insects, as well as its ability to attract pollinators.
In addition to producing cannabinoids, trichomes also produce Terpenes. Terpenes are a group of organic compounds that are responsible for the unique smell and flavor of each cannabis strain. They also play a role in the therapeutic effects of cannabis.
Trichomes are produced by cells called trichome glands. These glands are found all over the surface of the cannabis plant, but they are most concentrated on the flowers (or buds). The size, shape, and color of trichomes can vary depending on the strain of cannabis plant.
The Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that alters neurotransmitter release in the brain. These receptors are predominantly found in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, especially in the brain.
The Different Types of Cannabinoids
The Three Main Cannabinoids
THC, CBD, and CBN are the most well-known and researched cannabinoids. THC is the cannabinoid that is most well-known for its psychoactive properties. CBD is the cannabinoid that is most well-known for its therapeutic properties. CBN is the cannabinoid that is most well-known for its sedative properties.
The Function of Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the active compounds found in the cannabis plant. These compounds interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system to produce various physiological effects. Some cannabinoids, like THC, are responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Others, like CBD, are non-psychoactive and have shown promise in treating a variety of medical conditions.
The Importance of Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the active chemicals in cannabis plants. They are similar to the endocannabinoids that are produced by our bodies. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids in cannabis plants. The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD. THC is the cannabinoid that makes you high. CBD is the cannabinoid that has medicinal effects but does not make you high.
