Anatomy of a hemp flower: calyxes, pistils, bracts and sugar leaves
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Playback time 5 min
CONTENTS
A hemp flower comprises several structures, each with its own function. These include calyxes, bracts, pistils, sugar leaves, and trichomes. I suggest we dissect a CBD flower so you can finally put the correct name to what you're observing.
Things to remember
- A hemp flower is an inflorescence composed of several distinct plant structures.
- The calyxes, bracts, and pistils have different functions.
- Sugar leaves are rich in trichomes.
The hemp flower is an inflorescence
What does the term "flower" actually mean?
When you buy a CBD flower, you receive what is commonly called a “bud.” However, this term doesn't actually refer to a simple botanical structure. It actually corresponds to an inflorescence, that is, a cluster of many small female flowers.
Look closely at a bud, and you'll see that its surface isn't uniform. You can distinguish small structures tightly packed together, protruding filaments, small leaves, and a multitude of tiny resin glands. All these parts make up the structure of the inflorescence.
On hemp grown for its flowers, the female inflorescences are particularly sought after because they concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes in their glandular trichomes.
Why are female flowers rich in resin?
Cannabis is a plant that produces male and female flowers on separate individuals in many varieties, although some plants may exhibit both types of flowers.
The female flowers develop reproductive structures surrounded by bracts and calyxes and bear numerous glandular trichomes.
Calyces and bracts, the structures at the heart of the flower
The calyx is a small protective structure
When it comes to cannabis flowers, the term “calyx” is a bit unusual. The small structures often referred to as “calyces” in cultivation jargon largely correspond to the highly developed floral bracts that surround the reproductive organs (don't worry, I'll explain all this later!).
They are small, tightly packed and usually covered with many trichomes and represent a significant portion of the visible volume of a flower.
The bract, not to be confused with a regular leaf
A bract is a modified leaf associated with a reproductive structure of the plant. On hemp, the bracts located around the female flowers are particularly well-developed.
This is precisely where the vocabulary can become misleading! In cannabis, we very often talk about “calyces” to refer to these structures , whereas the botanical distinction between bracts and true sepals deserves to be preserved.
For you, the most important thing is to remember their location. These bracts surround and protect the reproductive structures of the flower and bear a high density of trichomes.
Why are these structures covered in trichomes?
The bracts and floral structures are among the areas richest in glandular trichomes. These small glands produce cannabinoids such as CBD, as well as numerous terpenes. This explains the shiny, crystalline, or "frosty" appearance that a flower can take on when it is abundantly covered in trichomes.
The resin visible on the surface of a bud comes primarily from these microscopic structures.
The pistils are those filaments that you see on the flowers.
Pistils or stigmas, which is the correct term?
You've probably already noticed the small white, yellow, orange or brown filaments that protrude from a hemp flower? They are often called “pistils”.
Botanically, the pistil refers to the entire female reproductive organ. The visible filaments correspond more precisely to the stigmas, which are located at the tips of the styles.
Their role in reproduction
The stigmas have a reproductive function. They allow the body to receive pollen from a male flower.
When a female flower is not pollinated, it continues to develop its floral tissues and trichomes.
Does their color indicate the quality of the flower?
No, not really. The stigmas can change color during development and after harvest. They generally go from light to darker shades.
But beware of oversimplification! Their color does not allow you to precisely determine the CBD concentration , terpene content or the quality of a flower.
Sugar leaves are the small leaves around the bud
Sugar leaves and fan leaves: two different structures
Fan leaves are the large, emblematic leaves of the plant. They are primarily used for photosynthesis and are found on the stems and branches.
Sugar leaves, on the other hand, are small leaves that emerge directly from the inflorescences. They are generally shorter, narrower, and heavily covered in trichomes. It is this shiny, resinous appearance that earned them their English name: “sugar leaves”.
Why are they rich in trichomes?
The sugar leaves are located in the heart of the plant and can bear a significant number of glandular trichomes. They therefore participate in the production and storage of cannabinoids and terpenes . However, their trichome concentration can vary depending on their location, development, and the plant's genetics.
Their place in trimming
After harvest, growers may remove some of the sugar leaves during trimming to obtain a cleaner flower by removing leaf tissue that protrudes from the inflorescence. The degree of trimming varies depending on the production methods.
It is therefore largely in these tiny structures that the resin of interest to producers of CBD flowers and extracts is found .
Article written by Benjamin Poirel-Nadal
Passionate about natural well-being and plants with multiple virtues, I've been exploring the benefits of CBD and its various forms for several years.
My aim? To share with you clear information, honest opinions and practical advice to help you integrate CBD into your daily life with confidence and serenity.
