
Flowers come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and scents. However, trichomes—a blanket of crystalline, sticky white glands—are a common feature of all buds.
Although marijuana is legal for medical use in a number of US states, we always recommend speaking with a marijuana doctor before incorporating marijuana into your treatment plan. The doctor will tell you whether marijuana is appropriate for you and teach you how to use it safely to treat your condition.
The majority of the plant’s terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids are produced by trichomes, which are small, glandular appendages on the surface of cannabis flowers. Although they can be found throughout the plant, trichomes are most commonly found on the leaves and flowers.
Trichomes are sometimes referred to as the “cellular metabolite factory” or the engine of cannabinoid and terpene synthesis. They can act as a first line of defense in the natural world against pathogens, insects, and environmental stressors. People prefer cannabis trichomes over pathogens.
What Are Trichomes?
The word “trichome,” which means “growth of hair” in Greek, is now used to describe the delicate appendages found on plants, algae, and lichens. These microscopic growths, which can be composed of hairs, glands, scales, and papillae, resemble transparent mushrooms that protrude from the plant’s surface.
Plants produce trichomes for various purposes: some plants (e.g., Venus flytraps) use them to catch prey. Plant cells are shielded from damaging UV light by other trichomes.
Trichomes in cannabis act as a defense mechanism to shield the plant from damage brought on by insects, animals, and even certain types of fungi. Trichomes are a useful deterrent for hungry animals because of their strong scents and bitter taste.
The majority of the plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids, which protect against disease and pests, are produced by trichomes. While terpenes keep the plant moist and deter potential predators, the sticky, bulbous glands have the ability to capture and retain tiny insects.
In the trichome, cannabinoids are produced as soon as the plant begins to flower. Trichomes form along the plant’s outer surface as cannabis plants start to produce flowers, and they start to metabolize the building blocks for a wide range of cannabinoids, including THCA and CBDA.
Different Types of Trichomes
- Bulbous Trichomes
The small, transparent glands that uniformly spread across the surface of the plant are called bulbous trichomes. These trichomes are mostly in charge of the stickiness of the bud and give the cannabis flower its crystalline sheen. Their role in the synthesis of cannabinoids is still debatable, and they are invisible without a microscope.
- Capitate Sessile Trichomes
Although they can only be seen under a microscope, capitate-sessile trichomes are far more common than their bulbous counterparts. These bulb-like trichomes, which resemble mushrooms, are primarily found on the underside of sugar and fan leaves. At the base of them are secretory cells that produce terpenes and cannabinoids.
- Capitate-stalked Trichomes
Capitate-stalked trichomes, which resemble mushrooms and have a big bulb at the top, are the most identifiable, noticeable, and prevalent kind of trichomes in cannabis. Secretory cells found in the bulbs carry nutrients to the head through the stalk. Cannabis flowers typically have capitate-stalked trichomes on their surface.
The Advantages of Trichomes
The majority of the plants’ terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids are produced by trichomes. By producing chemicals that interact with our endocannabinoid systems to treat a range of health issues, including pain, nausea, inflammation, and insomnia, these bulbous glands give cannabis its therapeutic properties.
Particularly, trichomes play a significant role in the production of cannabis concentrates, which are a common way for both recreational and medical marijuana users to consume cannabis. In order to produce high-potency concentrates, many growers today concentrate on growing cannabis flowers with larger and more trichomes.
To produce a range of concentrates, cannabis extraction artists extract trichomes from plant material using solvents or other separation techniques. Producers extract plant matter from the trichomes using butane, CO2, or ethanol, primarily leaving behind terpenes and cannabinoids.
Concentrates derived from trichomes that were separated without the use of solvents include bubble hash and kief. Although this is not always the case, such concentrates typically contain more plant matter than solvent extractions. More of a specific cannabis variety’s flavor, aroma, and even the kind of hash it produces are captured by solventless extracts. Furthermore, the absence of solvents in the production process adds an extra layer of safety.
Concentrates can be affordable for people looking for high doses of THC or CBD because they contain high percentages of cannabinoid content.
If you want to use marijuana as part of your medical regimen to treat a medical condition, you need to have a New Bedford medical marijuana card. This card will allow you to legally obtain marijuana in your state and guard against legal issues.