If you're interested in cannabis, you've probably already heard of trichomes. But do you know exactly what they are? And more importantly, what's their purpose? Should you, as a simple CBD consumer, be concerned? We'll explain everything here, from what they are to their vital role, and the different types of trichomes.
Cannabis trichomes: a brief introduction
Trichomes are small resinous glands found mainly on the surface of the flower of the hemp plant (they are also found on some leaves). They are sometimes called buds. They look like little excrescences; to the naked eye, they look like mini-crystals.
Good to know: trichomes are also present on many other plants, not just cannabis plants.
Do all hemp plants have trichomes? The answer is yes! However, while all cannabis plants do have trichomes, they are not distributed evenly or in the same density on the flowers. This depends not only on genetics, but also on growing methods and conditions. And also the stage of development.
For example, some varieties will naturally have more trichomes, as in the case of plants grown indoors, where growing conditions are totally controlled. Plants harvested too early will have fewer trichomes, and these will be of poorer quality.
The different types of trichomes
Yes, that would be too simple: there's no such thing as just one type of trichome!
Firstly, we distinguish between glandular trichomes, unicellular trichomes and cystolithic trichomes. Without going into botanical detail, just remember that glandular trichomes are essential for the quality of CBD flowers, so they're what we're interested in!
The so-called glandular trichomes produce many cannabinoids, including CBD, as well as terpenes. In other words, they will be linked to the potential benefits of CBD, as well as to the flower's aromatic profile.
Secondly, glandular trichomes can be subdivided into three types or three families. Granted, at first glance they may look the same, but they don't have the same role:
Bulbar trichomes
Microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, these trichomes produce little or no resin, and therefore no cannabinoids . They are found all over the surface of the plant.
Sessile captive trichomes
Glandular head, but not really a stem. They are mainly found on the leaves of the hemp plant, and contain a little resin. They are a little larger than bulbous ones, and a little smaller than stemmed capities.
Captive trichomes with stems
These are the largest of the glandular trichomes, and contain the most resin. You can see them with the naked eye, at the end of a stem, spherical like little bubbles, on the plant's flowers.
So it's the captive stem trichomes we're interested in, as they're responsible for terpenes and cannabinoids.
A word of clarification: these different types of trichomes do not correspond to the progressive stages of a single trichome that evolves. Rather, they appear progressively as part of the plant's natural development, and coexist on the hemp plant. They are distinct trichomes, each with its own function.
Cannabis trichomes: a central role
There's no denying the link between trichomes and CBD quality, and we'll explain why.
These little glands can be seen as factories for the production of cannabinoids (CBD, but also THC, CBG, etc.), terpenes and flavonoids. Logically, the more trichomes a hemp flower has on its surface, the higher its concentration of active ingredients.
This gives you a visual idea of the plant's potential richness. If you see a good quantity of trichomes (i.e. stem captia, if you've been following along), then this CBD flower is probably qualitative. Other criteria to consider: well-formed head, shiny layer, slightly sticky to the touch. If you see all this, the flower has been harvested at maturity and grown in good conditions. And the CBD will be of high quality!
For your information, trichomes also act as a natural shield for the plant. Sticky and concentrated in aromas, they repel insects and certain herbivores that might be tempted to taste the plant. What's more, they protect hemp from UV rays, drought and fungi.
In short, without trichomes, you have little chance of having a quality CBD flower, the same goes for CBD oil, and all other CBD products, such as gummiesSyrups, capsules, resins, etc.