Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis
Cannabis is a fascinating and complex plant that has been used and cultivated for millennia for its medicinal, recreational and industrial properties. There are three main types of cannabis: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis. Each type has unique characteristics that influence their use and effects. In this article, we'll explore these three types in detail, their specifics, and their differences.
Cannabis Sativa
Cannabis Sativa is a variety of cannabis native to equatorial regions such as Colombia, Mexico and Thailand.
Aspects of Sativa varieties
Cannabis Sativa is a tall plant, generally lighter green than other types. Its leaves are composed of long, narrow blades. Female flowers are longer and fluffier in appearance than those of Cannabis Indica. In general, the foliage of a Sativa plant is a little sparser than that of other varieties, allowing air to circulate more freely around and between the plants. This promotes healthier growth and reduces the risk of mold in tropical conditions, where many Sativas originate.
Equatorial origins
Cannabis Sativa reaches a higher height than other types of cannabis, continuing to grow taller during all phases of growth and flowering. In regions close to the Equator, day length doesn't change much throughout the year. As a result, Sativa strains are used to growing and flowering under a short, fairly uniform photoperiod (daily dose of daylight, as opposed to the dose of darkness).
Flowering and growth
Female Cannabis Sativa flowers begin to grow at the nodosities (the points on stems and branches from which pairs of leaves sprout) and generally spread along the stem and branches, rather than clustering around the nodosities as in other types. Sativa owes this type of flowering to its tendency to grow and flower simultaneously. As a result, female Sativa flowers are generally less dense and lighter than Indica flowers, despite being larger.
Cannabis Sativa hybrids
Pure varieties of Cannabis Sativa often require a combined growing and flowering period of around six months to reach maturity. For this reason, pure Sativa strains are rarely used for indoor cultivation or sold as commercial cannabis seeds. All Sativa strains viable for indoor cultivation have been crossed with Indica strains to reduce their size and flowering time. Even so, Sativa-Indica hybrids generally have a longer flowering period than their Indica relatives.
Multiple uses of Cannabis Sativa
Almost all hemp grown for industrial purposes is Cannabis Sativa. As the highest-growing variety, it produces the longest fibers and therefore allows the greatest number of industrial uses. As a recreational strain, Sativa produces energy-boosting, brain-boosting and inspirational effects, often followed by a craving for sweets, known as "the munchies". This aspect of cannabis-induced effects is of vital importance for people undergoing chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS treatment and other treatments that may cause nausea or lack of appetite.
Cannabis Indica
Cannabis Indica was classified in 1785 and is distinguished by its physical characteristics and effects.
General physical characteristics of Indica varieties
Cannabis Indica is a compact, bushy plant with thicker stems than its cousins, usually reaching heights of under two metres. Foliage is usually dark green, with some specimens having almost blue or green leaves turning black. The leaves are composed of short, broad blades.
Indica varieties tend to produce more lateral branches and grow more densely than Sativas, resulting in wider, bushier plants. Indica flowers form dense clusters around the nodules of the female plant. They generally weigh more than Sativa flowers of the same size, as they are denser.
Cannabis Indica growth and flowering cycle
The life cycle of Cannabis Indica is divided into two distinct phases - growth and flowering - in response to different lengths of daylight (photoperiodism). Growth takes place when the plant is exposed to long days and short nights (long photoperiod). During this phase, Cannabis Indica puts its energy into increasing in size and stature. As the days shorten and the nights lengthen (short photoperiod), the plant receives the signal that winter is approaching, triggering its flowering phase.
During the flowering phase, growth in height and width slows or stops, while Cannabis Indica devotes most of its energy to growing the reproductive parts - the male flowers which distribute pollen or the female flowers which produce the majority of cannabinoids. If the male plants are removed at the very beginning of the flowering phase, this prevents the female plants from producing seeds, and their cannabinoid-rich flowers can be harvested for medicinal or recreational use.
Effects and properties of Indica strains
Most Indica varieties are an important source of the cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBN. While Cannabis Sativa often produces a higher proportion of THC than the other cannabinoids it contains, Cannabis Indica often contains significant levels of all three types of cannabinoid. Indica varieties tend to produce more physiological effects than Sativa varieties - heightened physical sensations, a relaxing effect, dry mouth, red eyes. These effects are often grouped together under the term 'stoned', as opposed to the 'high' attributed to the effects of Sativa strains. This does not mean that Indica strains have no psychotropic effect, but simply that they have noticeable effects on the body.
Cannabis Indica varieties are grown almost exclusively for their medicinal and psychotropic properties, and are perhaps the most frequently used varieties of medicinal marijuana. When classifying this type, Lamarck noted that "the firm stem and thin bark of Cannabis Indica prevent it from furnishing fibers similar to the preceding species (Cannabis Sativa L.) of which so considerable use is made."
Cannabis Ruderalis
Cannabis Ruderalis is provisionally described as the third type of cannabis. Botanists are currently unsure whether it qualifies as a species in its own right. Ruderalis is an uncultivated variety native to Russia, Central Europe and Central Asia, adapted to the harsher environments found in these parts of the world.
Origins and characteristics
Whether viewed as a variant of the simple cannabis species or as a separate species, the Ruderalis cannabis types are probably descended from the Indica varieties, which in turn are probably descended from the Sativas. The differences between the growth and reproduction patterns of these three species can be related to the extremely different environments encountered by the original tropical phenotype Cannabis Sativa L. As it spread further and further north of Ecuador after the last Ice Age, the different types evolved to be able to survive new climates. Human intervention and agriculture have also had a significant impact on the gene pool of Indica and Sativa, but much less influence on wild Ruderalis.
Size and growth
A typical Cannabis Ruderalis plant remains very small, usually reaching a maximum height of between 30 and 80 cm. It produces only a few branches and has broad, thick-bladed leaves similar to those of Cannabis Indica. When it starts to flower, Ruderalis grows even less tall than an Indica variety.
Autoflowering capacity
The most notable characteristic of the Ruderalis variety is its ability to flower (and therefore reproduce) according to the plant's individual age and independently of the photoperiod at which it grows. Virtually all flowering plants are encouraged to reproduce.
In conclusion, the world of cannabis is as diverse as it is fascinating, with three main types of cannabis - Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis - each with distinct characteristics and varied uses. Cannabis Sativa is renowned for its height, long, narrow leaves and energizing, cerebral effects. It is often used for its fibers in industrial applications. Cannabis Indica, on the other hand, is more compact, with broad leaves and physical, relaxing effects, making it a popular choice for medicinal and recreational use. Finally, Cannabis Ruderalis is the smallest variety, known for its auto-flowering ability and rapid life cycle, often used in the creation of resistant, fast-maturing hybrids.
Each type of cannabis offers a unique range of benefits and characteristics, catering to a variety of needs and preferences. Whether for medicinal, recreational or industrial uses, understanding these differences is essential to getting the most out of this versatile plant. By cultivating this knowledge, users can make informed choices and enjoy the many facets of cannabis.
In conclusion, the world of cannabis is as diverse as it is fascinating, with three main types of cannabis - Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis - each with distinct characteristics and varied uses. Cannabis Sativa is renowned for its height, long, narrow leaves and energizing, cerebral effects. It is often used for its fibers in industrial applications. Cannabis Indica, on the other hand, is more compact, with broad leaves and physical, relaxing effects, making it a popular choice for medicinal and recreational use. Finally, Cannabis Ruderalis is the smallest variety, known for its auto-flowering ability and rapid life cycle, often used in the creation of resistant, fast-maturing hybrids.
Each type of cannabis offers a unique range of benefits and characteristics, catering to a variety of needs and preferences. Whether for medicinal, recreational or industrial uses, understanding these differences is essential to getting the most out of this versatile plant. By cultivating this knowledge, users can make informed choices and enjoy the many facets of cannabis.