The parts people talk about
Most cannabis products start with the flower, but the plant has several important parts. Knowing the anatomy helps when reading product descriptions and understanding quality.
Plant anatomy guide
| Part | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flower / bud | The resin-rich part usually harvested for smoking, vaping, extraction, or edibles. |
| Trichomes | Tiny resin glands that hold many cannabinoids and terpenes. |
| Sugar leaves | Small leaves close to the flower, often coated in trichomes. |
| Fan leaves | Large leaves that capture light; usually lower in cannabinoids. |
| Calyx / bract | Flower structures that hold much of the resin-rich material. |
| Pistils | Hair-like structures often visible on mature flower. |
| Stem | Support structure; generally not smoked. |
| Seeds | Used for cultivation and hempseed food products, but unwanted in most retail flower. |
Trichomes are the treasure
When people talk about frosty flower, they are usually talking about visible trichomes. Trichomes are important because they are where much of the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene content is concentrated.
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