Cannabis Plant Anatomy: The Terms You Need to Know
Most growing advice assumes you know these words. Ten minutes here makes every other guide easier to follow.
Structure
A node is where a branch or leaf meets the stem. The gap between nodes is the internode — tight internodes mean good light, stretched ones mean the light is too far. The main stem's top growth is the apical tip.
Flower parts
A cola is a cluster of buds along a stem, with the largest at the top of the plant. A calyx is the small teardrop-shaped structure buds are built from. Pistils are the hair-like strands that start white and darken. Trichomes are the resin glands, and they are what you check for harvest timing.
Leaves
Fan leaves are the large iconic leaves that do most of the photosynthesis. Sugar leaves are the small leaves growing out of the buds themselves, coated in trichomes — they get trimmed at harvest and are worth saving.
Sex
Females produce the flowers you want. Males produce pollen sacs that look like small clusters of grapes at the nodes. Hermaphrodites produce both.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I tell a pollen sac from a calyx early?
- Calyxes are teardrop-shaped with white pistils emerging. Pollen sacs are round or spade-shaped with no hairs and hang on a small stalk.