Short answer
Yes. Buds from a hermaphrodite plant can be used if they are free of mould. Hermaphroditism doesn't make flower unsafe. Pollination lowers its quality, though, because seeds take resources from the flowers and have to be picked out. Use the buds, but cull the plant: never clone it, keep it as a mother or grow its seeds (House position). The quality effect is Supported.
Why
A herm is still a female plant. Cannabis is dioecious [3], and an intersex plant is a female that also makes male flowers. The resin glands on its buds are the same kind as on any other female.
Pollination is what costs you. In a controlled study, herm anthers made working pollen, seeded inflorescences held 22–48 seeds, and seed formation reduced quality [1]. A late herm that never opened its anthers may leave the buds almost untouched.
Mould is the real safety question. Seeded, dense or over-ripe buds are a fine place for rot, and mouldy flower carries spores and possible mycotoxins whatever the plant's sex [2].
Its seeds are the problem to avoid. Herm pollen gives almost all female seed carrying the same tendency [1].
The numbers
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A few closed bananas, last days | Pluck with tweezers, finish in isolation |
| Many anthers or pollen shedding | Bag the plant, remove it, harvest early if near maturity |
| Seeds per seeded inflorescence | 22–48 [1]: pick them out |
| Grey core or fuzz in any bud | Bin it |
What to do
- Isolate the plant. Bag it before you move it so pollen doesn't spread.
- Decide whether to finish it or harvest now. Shedding pollen means harvest.
- Dry and cure it as normal: 15–21 °C (60–70 °F), 55–62% RH, 7–14 days.
- Pick the seeds out before use. Burning seeds gives harsh, popping smoke.
- Break open the big buds and check the cores for rot.
- Throw the seeds away, take no cuts, and record the event for the breeder.
Common mistakes
- Planting the seeds as free feminised seed.
- Keeping the plant as a mother because it smoked well.
- Leaving an open herm among the other plants.
- Smoking seeded buds without checking them for mould.
Related
- Full article: Hermaphrodite cannabis (bananas and nanners)
- Answers: seeds in my buds · preventing herms · mould in jars
- Article: male, female and hermaphrodite plants
- Terms: hermaphrodite · nanners
