Trichome: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:33, 10 February 2025

Trichome

A trichome is a small hair or other outgrowth from the epidermis of a plant. Trichomes are found on a wide variety of plant species and serve various functions, including protection against herbivory, reduction of water loss, and trapping of insects.

Types of Trichomes

Trichomes can be classified into several types based on their structure and function:

Glandular trichomes: These trichomes secrete substances such as essential oils, resins, or other compounds. They are often found on plants like Cannabis and Drosera.

Non-glandular trichomes: These are simple hair-like structures that do not secrete substances. They can be found on plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum species.

Functions

Trichomes serve multiple functions in plants:

Protection: Trichomes can deter herbivores by making the plant surface less palatable or more difficult to consume.

Water conservation: By reducing air flow over the plant surface, trichomes can help reduce water loss through evaporation.

Light reflection: Some trichomes reflect sunlight, reducing leaf temperature and protecting against UV radiation.

Insect trapping: In carnivorous plants like Drosera, trichomes can trap insects, which are then digested by the plant.

Examples

Cannabis: The trichomes on cannabis plants are glandular and produce the plant's psychoactive compounds.

Drosera capensis: This carnivorous plant uses glandular trichomes to trap and digest insects.

Solanum quitoense: This plant has non-glandular trichomes that provide a protective barrier.

Related Pages

References

Wagner, G. J., Wang, E., & Shepherd, R. W. (2004). New approaches for studying and exploiting an old protuberance, the plant trichome. Annals of Botany, 93(1), 3-11.
Werker, E. (2000). Trichome diversity and development. Advances in Botanical Research, 31, 1-35.

Gallery

Trichomes on a plant bud
Trichomes preserved in amber
Glandular trichomes on Drosera capensis
Close-up of cannabis trichomes
Trichomes on Solanum scabrum leaf
Trichomes on Solanum quitoense petiole
Glandular hairs on snapdragon buds
Trichomes on Brachypodium distachyon leaf
Red trichomes on roses

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Trichomes''' are small, hair-like outgrowths found on the surface of many plants. They serve a variety of functions, including protection against insects and other predators, and the regulation of plant temperature and moisture levels.
+== Trichome ==
-==Types of Trichomes==
+A '''trichome''' is a small hair or other outgrowth from the epidermis of a plant. Trichomes are found on a wide variety of plant species and serve various functions, including protection against herbivory, reduction of water loss, and trapping of insects.
-There are several types of trichomes, including:
-* '''[[Glandular Trichomes]]''': These trichomes have a head that produces and stores substances such as oils, resins, and other compounds. They play a crucial role in the plant's defense mechanism.
+== Types of Trichomes ==
-* '''[[Non-glandular Trichomes]]''': These trichomes do not produce or store substances. They are often longer and more hair-like than glandular trichomes, and they help to protect the plant from environmental stressors.
+Trichomes can be classified into several types based on their structure and function:
-* '''[[Stinging Trichomes]]''': Found on plants such as nettles, these trichomes inject a stinging substance when touched.
+* '''Glandular trichomes''': These trichomes secrete substances such as essential oils, resins, or other compounds. They are often found on plants like [[Cannabis]] and [[Drosera]].
-==Functions of Trichomes==
+* '''Non-glandular trichomes''': These are simple hair-like structures that do not secrete substances. They can be found on plants like [[Arabidopsis thaliana]] and [[Solanum]] species.
-Trichomes serve several important functions in plants, including:
-* '''[[Defense Mechanism|Defense]]''': Trichomes can deter or harm insects and other animals that try to eat the plant.
+== Functions ==
-* '''[[Temperature Regulation]]''': By reflecting sunlight, trichomes can help to keep the plant cool in hot conditions.
+Trichomes serve multiple functions in plants:
-* '''[[Moisture Regulation]]''': Trichomes can reduce the rate of water loss from the plant, helping it to conserve moisture.
+* '''Protection''': Trichomes can deter herbivores by making the plant surface less palatable or more difficult to consume.
-==Trichomes in Cannabis==
+* '''Water conservation''': By reducing air flow over the plant surface, trichomes can help reduce water loss through evaporation.
-In [[Cannabis]], trichomes are particularly important as they produce the plant's cannabinoids, including [[THC]] and [[CBD]]. These compounds have a variety of medicinal and recreational uses.
-==See Also==
+* '''Light reflection''': Some trichomes reflect sunlight, reducing leaf temperature and protecting against UV radiation.
-* [[Plant Anatomy]]
-* [[Plant Physiology]]
-* [[Cannabis Cultivation]]
-[[Category:Botany]]
+* '''Insect trapping''': In carnivorous plants like [[Drosera]], trichomes can trap insects, which are then digested by the plant.
-[[Category:Plant Anatomy]]
-[[Category:Cannabis]]
-{{Botany-stub}}
+== Examples ==
-{{Plant-anatomy-stub}}
+* '''[[Cannabis]]''': The trichomes on cannabis plants are glandular and produce the plant's psychoactive compounds.
+* '''[[Drosera capensis]]''': This carnivorous plant uses glandular trichomes to trap and digest insects.
+* '''[[Solanum quitoense]]''': This plant has non-glandular trichomes that provide a protective barrier.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Plant morphology]]
+* [[Epidermis (botany)]]
+* [[Glandular hair]]
+== References ==
+* Wagner, G. J., Wang, E., & Shepherd, R. W. (2004). New approaches for studying and exploiting an old protuberance, the plant trichome. ''Annals of Botany'', 93(1), 3-11.
+* Werker, E. (2000). Trichome diversity and development. ''Advances in Botanical Research'', 31, 1-35.
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:Cap1033-botao1.jpg|Trichomes on a plant bud
+File:Sternhaar_in_Baltischem_Bernstein.jpg|Trichomes preserved in amber
+File:Drosera_capensis_bend.JPG|Glandular trichomes on ''Drosera capensis''
+File:Trichomes_Close_Cannabis.jpg|Close-up of cannabis trichomes
+File:Solanum_scabrum_trichomes_on_leaf_lamina.tif|Trichomes on ''Solanum scabrum'' leaf
+File:Solanum_quitoense_petiole_trichomes.tif|Trichomes on ''Solanum quitoense'' petiole
+File:Snapdragon_buds_with_glandular_hairs_--_Antirrhinum_majus.jpg|Glandular hairs on snapdragon buds
+File:Brachypodium_distachyon_leaf_(x250).jpg|Trichomes on ''Brachypodium distachyon'' leaf
+File:Red_Trichomes_of_the_roses.jpg|Red trichomes on roses
+</gallery>
+[[Category:Plant anatomy]]