Sessile Glands

Sessile glands are trichomes—specialized plant structures—that sit directly on the leaf or flower surface without a stalk or stem. In cannabis, these microscopic resin-producing glands appear as small, rounded bumps and are distinct from stalked glandular trichomes, which elevate cannabinoid and terpene production further from the leaf epidermis. Sessile glands are commonly observed across all cannabis varieties and are often noted in breeding lineages for their density and distribution patterns. Breeders and botanists frequently use sessile gland morphology as one metric for evaluating resin production capacity and plant maturity stages. Their presence on bracts, calyx, and fan leaves contributes to the overall trichome profile that distinguishes cultivars and influences preservation and handling protocols.

Breeders working in cannabis genetics track sessile gland density and distribution as secondary markers for resin phenotype assessment. High sessile gland prevalence on calyxes is often associated with dense flower structure and is monitored during selection for consistency and shelf-stability in seed lines.