The Cannabis Plant
What is a Cannabis Plant?
The cannabis plant is deeply rooted in ancient history with its earliest documented use dating back to the reign of Chinese Emperor Shennong. Shennong’s seminal text “Shennong Bencao Jing”(Classic of Herbal Medicine) marks one of humanity’s first organised attempts to catalogue medicinal plants and was written in approximately 2700 BC.
The cannabis plant is a member of the Cannabaceae plant family and has been cultivated for a number of purposes, including industrial and medicinal.
While many people know what cannabis is, few are aware of the complexities of the cannabis plant itself, or the different species of cannabis plant flowers within it.
What type of plant is cannabis?
Cannabis is a flowering plant from the Cannabaceae family, which can contain psychoactive and non-psychoactive compounds.
There are several different species of cannabis flower, which contain varying numbers of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. The two best known of these cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The different types of cannabis flowers are all believed to have different qualities, dependent on the ratios of cannabinoids contained within them.
What are the stages of cannabis plant growth?
Like all plants, the cannabis plant goes through a number of growth stages as it matures from a seed to a fully grown flowering plant.
1. Germination
Germination is the stage where the cannabis seed sprouts and begins to grow. Germination can take up to ten days, during which the seed will use stored food to nourish itself. Providing conditions are favourable, with enough warmth, moisture and oxygen, the seed will develop enough to split open. Once the seed coat splits open, the root emerges, followed by the stem and two rounded cotyledon (seed leaf). These initial leaves are responsible for absorbing sunlight and photosynthesizing so that the cannabis flower can grow.
2. Seedlings and clones
The cannabis plant will be bright green as it develops. During the seedling phase, which lasts between two to three weeks, more leaves will develop, in the traditional fan shape often associated with the cannabis plant. It will also develop a root system. Seedlings should not be confused with clones, which are cuttings (usually the stem or leaf) of a mature plant, making them genetically identical, or a ‘clone’ of the plant they’ve come from.
3. Vegetative state
This is the longest stage in the cannabis flower’s development cycle. This can land from three to sixteen weeks, and is when the plant maximises its size and strength. Its roots become extensive; at this stage, it’s important for the cannabis flower to get as much water and nutrients as it needs.
4. Flower stage
This is the stage when the cannabis plant will start to develop its flower buds. Producing flowers is a sign that the plant has matured, as flowers are the reproductive organs of the plant, which is why male and female cannabis plants can look quite different. Different strains can take a different amount of time to flower, but the flowering stage can last up to 12 weeks. In the final few weeks of maturity, the flower will produce the highest amounts of cannabinoids.
5. Harvest
The final stage of a plant’s growth cycle, this is when the cannabis flower is ready to be picked. The buds will have fattened, and the plant’s stigmas will change colour, usually from transparent to a milky-white. This is when the plant is ready for harvesting.
6. Regulation
Medicinal cannabis is subject to specific requirements around how it is grown, collected, harvested, cut and dried. The guidelines, Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) are important because seed selection, cultivation and harvesting conditions can have a significant impact on the quality of the finished product.
A condition for holding an Australian GMP licence is that cannabis manufacturers must ensure that plants are cultivated in line with GACP standards.
What are the different types of cannabis plants?
While there are hundreds of different cannabis strains, they can be broadly categorised into two main types: sativa and indica, with a hybrid option forming the third type.
Strains, often called “cultivars” refer to the various breeds or varieties of cannabis plant. At a high level, these strains are often categorised into three primary types; indica, sativa and hybrids. These classifications are derived from the different species of cannabis plants that have originated from unique geographic locations and possess different physical characteristics.
The classification into indica and sativa strains traces back to their geographic origins and morphological differences. Over centuries, selective breeding influenced by environmental conditions, cultural practices and medical applications has shaped a diverse array of cultivars, each with specific traits such as aroma, flavour and potency.
Cannabis sativa
Cannabis sativa plants are tall and thin, and often take longer than other cannabis plants to mature. This species of plants were native to Central America, Africa and Asia. Sativa plants are commonly associated with an energising effect profile. While research is still being conducted into this area, it is hypothesised that this is because of the unique combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes included in these plants. Today, there is a range of sativa strains that are grown commercially, while the majority of strains exist as a hybrid of the sativa and indica plant.
Cannabis indica
Cannabis indica, by contrast, grows faster than sativa and usually produces more dense flower buds. Their leaves are chunkier and they are low and broad. Traditionally, indica plants are known to produce higher concentrations of THC due to the morphology of the plant which has greater amounts of cannabinoid rich oils in the flower bud itself.
Cannabis hybrid
Modern cannabis cultivation and breeding has been transformed by hybridisation. This technique involves “crossing” different cultivars to produce new varieties that inherit desirable trains from both parent strains. The goal of hybridisation is often to enhance certain characteristics, such as increased potency, specific cannabinoid ratios or unique terpene profiles.
This has resulted in the exponential growth in the number of cannabis strains. Hybrids are selected and modified for the potential effect they can have. Often, hybrid cannabis plants are grown to increase the THC percentage, but they are also cultivated to increase the CBD percentage too.
Hybrids are usually cultivated in a greenhouse or an indoor cultivation room, to allow for more control over their environment. While outdoor cultivation is less costly than indoor cultivation, it is harder to control the temperature and humidity required which can impact the quality of the flower.
Beyond Indica & Sativa
Cannabis flowers are generally often found on a spectrum ranging from indica to sativa, with many hybrid combinations in between them.
- Sativa: Cultivars presumed to feature exclusively sativa genetic lineage.
- Sativa Dominant Hybrid: Cultivars with sativa dominant characteristics with some indica lineage.
- Balanced Hybrid: Cultivars with a roughly even proportion of indica and sativa lineage.
- Indica Dominant Hybrid: Cultivars with a majority of indica lineage, but with some sativa traits
- Indica: Cultivars presumed to feature exclusively indica genetic lineage.
It is important to note that in today’s medicinal cannabis cultivation landscape, most cultivars fall into the hybrid category. As healthcare professionals, thinking in terms of indica vs. sativa may prove to be overly simplistic. A given cultivar's cannabinoid and terpene content may prove to be the determining factors in what drives a specific effect profile.
What is the difference between male and female cannabis plants?
There are several differences between the male and female cannabis plants. Physically, the male cannabis plant grows taller and faster, with fewer leaves than the female, which is usually bushier. The female cannabis plant produces flowers or buds, whereas the male cannabis plant produces small, smooth, egg-shaped pollen sacs.
These distinctions between the male and female cannabis plant can be spotted during the vegetative state, identifiable as what the plant looks like. When it comes to medicinal cannabis, cannabis grown from the male cannabis plant is not usable. It is cannabis from the female cannabis plant, which is rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, that is converted into medicinal cannabis.
How is the cannabis plant utilised in a medicinal context?
The cannabis plant is used to create medicinal cannabis products, which come in a variety of forms. CBD oils or tinctures, edibles or vaporisers are the common form of medicinal cannabis product. They work either by being absorbed through the digestive system, or - in the case of vaporisers - via inhalation into the bloodstream. The effect of the medicinal cannabis may vary depending on the patient’s weight and physical make-up, as well as the dosage.
If you have any questions, or would like to know more, our team would be happy to assist you with any queries or further information. We also have a series of educational blogs on our website.
