6 minute read
Cannabis Nomenclature
Nomenclature is just another long fancy name for a very simple activity.It ranks up there with words like brobdingnagian, which is just a long fancy word for huge or gigantic. Nomenclature is the devising or choosing of names for things or simplythe term applied to something. So for example homo sapien is the scientific nomenclature for us humans. In the plant kingdom there are possibly hundreds of thousands of different names for different plants.If you go in more detail there are names for the parts of each plant all of which are considered nomenclature. If you do a google search for “cannabis nomenclature” you will come across things like “cannabis is a genus of flower plant in the family cannabaceae” –Wikipedia. If you’re like me then after reading that you would be tempted to hit the back button in google chrome and go search for the latest episode of your favourite series. If your focus is ganja (and I would think it is since you’re reading a cannabis magazine) then most of that information is as useless to you as the males in your grow room.
Scientifically speaking there are three species of cannabis that can be recognised Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis. Sativa and indica are like the Jay-z and Beyonce of the cannabis world anyone who has smoked ganja should know them. Each species has its own uniqueness from the shape of the plant itself to the effects after consuming it.
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The term hemp is related to the fibre or cannabis grown specifically to be used as fi bres for rope and other textiles. Now to name some of the parts of the cannabis plant itself:
Fan leaves: The most distinct feature of the plant, it has become the symbol for Ganja internationally. This unique part of the plant can be described as big protruding leaves that appear along the length of the plant. They will possess between 5-7 fingers or leaves. The leaves can tell you how healthy your plant is. Common ailments like mildew or infestations will appear first on the leaves. If the
leaves are starting showing any bizarre changes in appearance it may be a good idea to hop onto our fb page for more info on that. The Fan leaves have use besides giving the plant its distinct appearance. They can create extracts, juices and have therapeutic uses as well.
Trichomes: Like sugar but twice as sweet. Trichromes are tiny bulbous growths on the flower of
the cannabis plant. They glisten in the light and make the flower appear as if it were coated with tiny diamonds. But what’s a rock to a trichome? Trichomes ooze the cannabidy goodness. They are in fact the glands responsible for producing the plants THC, CBD and Aromatic oils called terpenes (Let’s see a diamond do that). Trichromes are what causes the euphoric (high) effect we get when smoking, eating or otherwise consuming Ganja.
Calyx: In some text you might see it referred to as the bract; although, sometimes a distinction is made between the two. Not readily seen by looking at the
flower. Calyx refers to the grouping of sepals (which is a nice name for the green part of a flower that protects the petal before the blossom) that is the entire protective platform of the flower. The unique thing aboutsensimilla’s calyx is that unlike other flowering plants the calyx is of special interest to the grower.
This is because the calyx of your cannabis plant has the highest concentration of trichomes and resin glands i.e. the highest concentration of THC and CBD. The sepals are green and leaf like. Pistils:Most persons call the tiny hair like structures that grow out of the calyx the pistil.
However Pistils are actually the name of the females’ reproductive organs. The hairs are actually the stigma and style of the plant. They form a part of the pistil along with the ovule.
The stigma transition in colour from white to red to orange and then brown. The stigma are a very important part of the pistil they are in fact very seductive pollen traps (thirst trap). They reach out of the ovary in search for the males’ pollen. Deliberately covered in sticky resin just for this purpose.Once pollinated they start to transfer energy from bud development to seed production. Which occurs inside the calyx.
Sugar leaves: No these have nothing to do with sugar cane. The sugar leaves are small one fingered leaves that grow out of the cannabis flower or bud. The Nomenclature related to their appearance. The leaves look like they’re covered with powdered sugar. Which are in fact concentrations of trichromes, those THC rich glands from earlier. The presence of the trichromes is what gives the leaves some value on the plant after it is time to harvest. Growers are divided and between those that would cut the sugar leaves off and those that
would let them stay. In my opinion your better off cutting the little buggers off and finding an alternative use for them. Just so you don’t waste the THC.
Cola: The cola (not like coca cola) is the botanical nomenclature for the flowering site on the female plant. It is where the bud blossoms. On a cannabis plant the term Cola refers to the combination of trichromes, sugar leaves, Calyxes and the bud itself (since they closely packed). Cannabis plants will vary in the amount of cola they have. However in its natural environment the plant has only one main cola or Apical Bud. The Apical Bud is the cola that forms at the end of the stem at the top of the plant. It’s the crown, it’s your crown-ing achievement, it’s the reason you’ve spent weeks tending and talking to your plants. To have them produce the nicest, fattest cola possible for either sale or just to have a lit splif with the boys. Nodes: Nodes are grow sites on the plant from which new stems, buds or flowers will shoot. Nodes are the part of the plant where the newer branches separate from the main stem. Nodes have feature called the internode. An Internode is the distance between two nodes.
Wondering why you would need a name for
something so silly? Don’t plant just grow new branches at random? Actually they don’t. In the case of cannabis the intermodal distance is actually a very important feature. The intermodal distance like the fan leaves can display signs of your plant’s
health. For example a long intermodal distance can cause week branches that will break once buds start to mature. Nodes can also tell a few thing about your plant, like its gender and influence
pruning techniques.
