Have you ever admired fresh cannabis flower and wondered what the alluring silvery “frost” was? They’re cannabis trichomes, the cannabis plant’s very own “chemical factories.” Viewed under a microscope, that silvery frost turns out to be a forest of tiny mushroom-shaped glands, each of which produces the plant’s most precious compounds: the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that are the principal “active ingredients” in cannabis.
Given the importance of trichomes to the cannabis plant and to cannabis consumers, let us take you on a guided tour through the world of trichomes, including an explanation of how trichomes function, and why they do what they do.
A Trichome’s Function: The Cannabis Plant’s First Line of Defense
As Michigan’s first family of dispensaries, it makes sense we’d be most interested in the hows and whys of THC. Trichomes, though, have a broader story to tell.
While these tiny glands are important players in the cannabis plant’s physiology, they aren’t unique to the cannabis plant. If you’ve ever pondered the curious-looking scales on pineapple plants or the sinister-looking “trigger hairs” on the Venus flytrap, you’re looking at trichomes. And the Venus flytrap is a useful introduction to trichomes function: First and foremost a protector of their home. When insects touch the sensitive trichomes inside the flytrap’s hinged lobes, they snap shut on their prey in a fraction of a second.
Along with cannabinoids such as THC, the story of cannabis trichomes is linked with the story of terpenes, the fragrant “essential oils” that give different cannabis strains their unique sensory profiles. As we’ve covered before, terpenes deliver medical benefits as well as those tantalizing aromas and flavors. And as it turns out, those terpenes are also protecting the plant from predators.
How? Terpenes such as caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene help repel insectile pests, particularly during the female plant’s flowering phase when it’s producing the ripe buds that will eventually become smokeable flower. On top of that, the THC in trichomes help protect the plant from ultraviolet light (UV), excessive temperatures, and even fungal threats. That’s quite a lof of work from those hard-working plant structures!
The Three Major Types of Cannabis Trichomes
Cannabis trichomes appear in a number of varieties, but there are three principal subtypes. Here’s an introduction:
- Capitate-stalked trichomes are the largest of the trichome types, and are visible by the naked eye. Their bulbous gland heads are where the bulk of cannabinoid and terpene production takes place.
- Capitate sessile trichomes are between 25 and 100 microns in size—roughly the cross-section of a human hair, give or take. While abundant, they don’t produce as many active compounds as capitate-stalked trichomes.
- Bulbous trichomes are tiny, sometimes comprised of only a handful of cells. While they appear on the surface of the entire plant, they don’t produce a great deal of cannabinoids of terpenes due to their small size.
Commonly Asked Questions on Cannabis Trichomes
Still curious about trichomes? Let’s sum up what we’ve covered with a few questions we commonly get from our customers.
What are trichomes on a bud?
As the silvery-looking “frost” visible on cannabis flower, cannabis trichomes are tiny glands that produce cannabinoids and terpenes, the principal “active ingredients” in cannabis. For the plants, a trichome’s function is to provide protection: from the sun, pests, and predators. For us humans, cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, are produced in trichomes, along with the scents and flavors provided by terpenes, and other active compounds we enjoy.
What are the structure and function of trichomes?
To the naked eye, trichomes appear as a silvery frost on cannabis flower. But viewed through a microscope, trichomes are actually mushroom-shaped glands that produce and secrete the most sought-after of cannabis compounds, including cannabinoids such as THC and CBD and terpenes such as myrcene, humulene, and limonene.
Does more trichomes mean more THC?
Trichomes are glandular structures on cannabis flowers that produce THC, but more trichomes does not necessarily mean more THC. The potency of any particular bud is a combination of the number of trichomes along with potency of the resin produced by the trichomes. Resin is the sticky substance produced inside trichomes that contains THC, other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other active compounds.
In theory a plant could produce many trichomes with low potency, or fewer trichomes with high potency. The best way to know a particular bud’s potency is to purchase cannabis from a licensed retailer and refer to the product label or certificate of analysis done by a lab.
Enjoy Exclusive Access to Frosty Flower and More
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about one of cannabis’ most important structures—both for the plant and for those of us who love it!
Speaking of which, we don’t just sell potent cannabis products: We make them, too. We’re proud to offer our own in-house Concentrate Kings, Strain Kings, Terpene Tanks, Magic Edibles, and other top-rated products. We put extra care and attention into these products because they’re intended for a very special customer: You!
Find the Exclusive location nearest you to browse our live menu and find some frosty trichome covered flower to enjoy today. We look forward to seeing you!
