Cola

A cola is the dominant terminal cluster of tightly packed female flowers at the apex of the main stem or a primary branch of Cannabis sativa, representing the largest and most resinous inflorescence on the plant (Clarke 1981; Small 2015). Because apical dominance and superior light interception concentrate photosynthate flow to the top of the canopy, apical colas typically bear higher densities of capitate-stalked glandular trichomes and higher cannabinoid yields than lateral inflorescences (Livingston et al. 2020; Tanney et al. 2021). Training techniques — topping, FIMing, low-stress training, sea of green, and screen of green — are designed to manipulate apical dominance and multiply the number of dominant colas per plant. Etymology: Spanish cola ("tail"), in reference to the tapered, tail-like shape of the terminal floral cluster, adopted from 1960s–1970s Mexican-Spanish cannabis vernacular (Clarke 1981). Synonyms/slang: apical bud, top, main cola, "kola," "Christmas-tree top." → See also: Bud, Flowering, Trichome, Topping.