What Are The Aerial Parts of the Hemp Plant?

Becoming a hemp enthusiast means having to learn a whole lot of new terminology, or else you’re going to have a hard time finding the right cannabinoid product for you.  We hear a lot about “full spectrum vs broad spectrum,” “distillate”, “indica vs sativa”, “hybrid”, “terpenes vs cannabinoids”, and so on, and now we’re going to add another term to the seemingly never-ending list of lingo: aerial.

Maybe you’ve noticed when shopping for a hemp product that the term “aerial parts” is used somewhere on the label.  So, what does this mean, and how much does it matter when it comes to the quality and effects of the product?

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What Does “Aerial” Mean?

The aerial parts of the hemp plant are any parts of the plant that are exposed to air – pretty much all of the plant that’s above ground.  Maybe you’ve seen the term used alongside the term “whole-plant”, which means the same thing.  A lot of products that are extract-based and full spectrum use all aerial parts of the hemp plant in order to produce their extractions, so that the product contains every naturally occurring compound native to the plant, which includes a diverse array of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and nutrients. 

Some believe that whole-plant, aerial extracts produce a stronger entourage effect, since the plant is truly consumed “as nature intended”.  The entourage effect refers to the effect of maximum synergy that comes from taking every compound as it occurs in nature, for better absorption and more significant effects overall.

What are the Aerial Parts of Hemp?

Now, we can dissect each aerial component of the hemp plant in order to understand its value.

Aerial Component #1: Flower Buds

The flowering buds of industrial hemp have the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes by far.  This is why people are perfectly satisfied purchasing just the whole, raw flower buds for smoking.  The cannabinoids are densely packed into the buds, while the buds are covered in a layer of resinous trichomes that contain the plant’s terpenes.  A lot of hemp products are produced solely from the buds, with no other aerial parts included.

Aerial Component #2: Leaves, Stems, and Stalks

The leaves of the hemp plant are often discarded when flower buds are trimmed, along with stems and stalks.  But, that doesn’t mean that they don’t serve a purpose.  For one thing, these aerial parts are very rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids.  And, they have lower concentrations of the same cannabinoids in the flower, and so they add to the total cannabinoid concentration of the whole plant.

Aerial Component #3: Seeds

The seeds of the plant are mainly used as a source of nutrients, although it’s worth mentioning that the cannabinoid HHC, which is a hydrogenated form of THC, is found primarily in the seeds of the plant rather than the flower.

Which Aerial Parts of Hemp are in Hemp Products?

Which specific aerial parts are included in any given hemp product, depends mainly on the choice of the manufacturer.  Like we said, some companies make their extractions solely from the flower, and others use all of the aerial parts.  So, let’s go over the pros and cons of each.

Just the Flower

Pros:

• More concentrated cannabinoid content 
• Stronger terpene flavor

Cons:

• Wasteful since the rest of the plant is discarded
• Missing out on a lot of nutrients
• Potentially getting less of an entourage effect

All Aerial Parts

Pros

• Economical, since it uses all of the aerial parts of the plant
• Higher compound diversity and potentially stronger entourage effect
• Richer in nutrients 

Cons 

• Slightly “plantier” taste
• Slightly reduced concentration of cannabinoids 

The Takeaway: Aerial Hemp Extracts Can Be Extremely Rich in Cannabinoids, Terpenes, Flavonoids, and Phytonutrients 

While each hemp user is free to choose between which type of extract they prefer, you can see that there’s definitely a case to be made for including all aerial parts of the plant in one’s daily routine. 

Many people have long discarded the stems, seeds, stalks and leaves when seeking out the plant’s cannabinoids, but the reality is that these compounds can all contribute to the positive results we get when we consume a hemp product.  So, if aerial extracts appeal to you, look for terms like “aerial parts” or “whole-plant”, as these will contain all of the above-ground components of industrial hemp so that they can each benefit you in their own unique way.

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