Good morning. Today we are going to start to learn the anatomy of cannabis. As I have spent time at grow sites and read books concerning our beloved plant, I have realized some of the terms I use and see used are actually incorrect.
Does it make us wrong? Absolutely not, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
We are going to take a look at what we mistakenly refer to as a calyx.
Here is a diagram provided by Mel Frank...
Here we can see what we usually refer to as a "calyx" is actually a "bract". (wha?)
For some reason, having your buddy say "Look at those swollen bracts" does not seem to have the same impact as saying swollen calyxs. Why? I haven't a clue.
Indeed we can see that what we see in our buds, that we call a calyx is actually a bract.
Bract & Calyx
The bract encapsulates the reproductive sections of the female flower. Underneath the tiny leaves of the cola, called ‘sugar leaves,’ a keen observer will find the tear-shaped nodules which form the bract. They come in various shapes, colors, and sizes. Bracts contain high concentrations of trichomes: glands which secrete cannabinoids such as THC. Though often confused with bracts, the calyx is a translucent layer at the flower’s base and is not visible to the naked eye.
"translucent layer"? That is making me think of the "perianth" (spelling?)
Well as we can see there is a ton of terminology used to distinguish and identify seperate parts of our plants. We may not refer to them by their correct names, but we all know what we are talking about.
I doubt we can swing this post back to the gutter, but I am along for the ride where ever it goes.
Bract...not your mother's calyx.
(See what I did there)
Best of luck mate!