Bulbous Glands

Bulbous glands refer to the large, spherical trichome heads that develop on cannabis flowers and leaves, particularly visible under magnification. These structures are distinct from capitate-stalked and capitate-sessile trichome morphologies, featuring a notably swollen, ball-like cannabinoid and terpene-producing head. The bulbous appearance is often associated with resinous flower phenotypes and has been documented across various cultivars in breeding records. Growers and breeders examine trichome morphology—including bulbous gland development—as a visual indicator of maturity and resin production capacity. This trait is considered part of broader trichome architecture studies within cannabis horticulture and genetics.

Breeders working with trichome phenotypes monitor bulbous gland expression as a heritable trait linked to resin production potential. Selection for prominent bulbous trichomes has been incorporated into many modern breeding programs targeting dense resinous flower structure.