Cannabis indica

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Cannabis indica
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Cannabaceae
Genus: Cannabis
Species: C. indica
Binomial name
Cannabis indica
Lam.
Cannabis indica (sometimes classified Cannabis sativa spp. indica) is an annual plant in the Cannabaceae family. A putative species of the genus Cannabis, it is typically distinguished from Cannabis sativa.[1][2] Schultes described C. indica as relatively short, conical, and densely branched, whereas C. sativa was described as tall and laxly branched.[3] Anderson described indica plants as having short, broad leaflets whereas those of the sativa species were characterized as relatively long and narrow.[4] Cannabis indica plants conforming to Schultes's and Anderson's descriptions may have originated from the Hindu Kush mountain range.
File:Indica leaf.jpg
Broad leaf of the Indica plant.
Due to the often harsh and variable (extremely cold winters, and warm summers) climate of those parts, C. indica is well-suited for cultivation in temperate climates.

Broad-leafed Cannabis indica plants in India, Afghanistan and Pakistan are traditionally cultivated for the production of hashish. Pharmacologically, indica landraces tend to have a higher cannabidiol (CBD) content than sativa strains.[5] Most commercially available indica strains have been selected for low levels of CBD (which is not psychoactive), with some users reporting more of a "stoned" and less of a "high" effect from indica compared to sativa. Differences in the terpenoid content of the essential oil may account for some of these differences in effect.[6][7] Common indica strains for recreational or medicinal use include White widow and Northern Lights.

A recent genetic analysis included both the narrow-leaflet and wide-leaflet drug "biotypes" under C. indica, as well as southern and eastern Asian hemp (fiber/seed) landraces and wild Himalayan populations.[8]

See also

References

  1. Small, E., and A. Cronquist. 1976. A practical and natural taxonomy for Cannabis. Taxon 25: 405–435.
  2. Greg Green. 2005. The Cannabis Breeder’s Bible. Green Candy Press, 15-17
  3. Schultes, R. E., et. al. 1974. Cannabis: an example of taxonomic neglect. Harvard University Botanical Museum Leaflets 23: 337–367.
  4. Anderson, L. C. 1980. Leaf variation among Cannabis species from a controlled garden. Harvard University Botanical Museum Leaflets 28: 61–69.
  5. Hillig, K. W., and P. G. Mahlberg. 2004. A chemotaxonomic analysis of cannabinoid variation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). American Journal of Botany 91: 966-975.
  6. McPartland J. M., and E. B. Russo. 2001. Cannabis and Cannabis extracts: greater than the sum of their parts? Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics 1(3/4) 103-132.
  7. Hillig, K. W. 2004. A chemotaxonomic analysis of terpenoid variation in Cannabis. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 32: 875-891.
  8. Hillig, K. W. 2005. Genetic evidence for speciation in Cannabis (Cannabaceae). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 52: 161-180.

External links

de:Indischer Hanf

et:India kanep hr:Cannabis indica it:Cannabis indica ru:Конопля индийская sr:Индијска конопља tr:Cannabis indica