(Author)
Introduction
Cannabis belongs to the genus of the flowering plants. Cannabis is one of the most studied plants in the history of biology that is why I selected this plant and studied various features of this plant.
There are three known species of cannabis (Ritsner, 2011); Cannabis sativa, Cannabis ruderalis, and Cannabis indica. Cannabis sativa is considered as the most studied species. These species are mostly found in the Central and South Asia. They are also known as marijuana, hemp, hashish, dagga, bhang, grass, and loco weed. Cannabis plant is of different heights, i.e. it can be 1-20 feet in height above the ground. Usually, Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica grow taller as compared to Cannabis ruderalis. It is an annual plant with the life period from April to September. Overall, this plant needs little care for proper growth. Optimal day temperature range for cannabis is 24-30 °C (75-86 °F). This range of temperature is also an optimum temperature for corn and crop growth (Häfliger, & Limited, 1979). Elevated temperature, i.e. over 31 °C (88F), and lower temperature, i.e. below 15.5 °C (60F), can decrease the potency of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Green, 2009).
This plant has long been used to produce hemp fiber for industrial and commercial purposes, for medical purposes, for seed oils, and as a recreational drug. Various extracts such as hash oil are also obtained from this plant. According to the UN Narcotics Convention, some strains of cannabis are used to produce reduced levels of THC. THC is used as a psychoactive agent that can cause high that is the feeling of relaxation and mild euphoria (Varney, Kriebs, & Gegor, 2004). THC is obtained from the dried flowers of the plant (Hall, & Pacula, 2003).
Morphological and Anatomical Structures of Cannabis
Upon examination of cannabis bud, a complex knotting pattern of various parts of the plant can be observed. It has a number of fiery orange hairs along with the sugary crystal structures. There are chunky knobs enveloped by tiny leaves. Cannabis plants have tap roots that are approximately one-tenth of the length of the stem. Main root has numerous small branches coming out from it.
Males and Females in Cannabis
Cannabis plants can have male or female parts and features, i.e. dioecious variety (Pate, 1994), or they can have both features, i.e. hermaphroditic variety. Subdioecy, which is the presence of hermaphrodites and dioecious plants in the same population, is commonly found in the collection of cannabis plants.
Up to the flowering season, both male and female plants look similar, although male plants may be more slender as compared to female plants, which can be somewhat stocky. Female plants produce large resin-secreting flowers with round or pointed buds. On the other hand, male plants produce little spheres that are present near the base of the leaves. Pollination between male plants and female plants take place to start the production of seeds. Ovary of the plant is bicarpellary in nature. The ovule lies laterally to the apex of the stem and is associated with the posterior carpellary wall and is taken upward to the top of the ovarian chamber where it takes the pendulous position.
It has to be noted that potent flowers that are consumed by people come from the seedless variety of female plants, known as sinsemilla (Hoeger, & Hoeger, 2010), which produce large cannabinoid-rich buds having no seeds. Hermaphroditic plants, having both male and female parts and characteristics, are rare. These plants can pollinate themselves in the flowering season. However, this self-pollination is a rarely desirable character as it may destroy the seedless sinsemilla plants and causes the hermaphroditic genes to pass on to the next generation. People can confirm the sex of the plants by growing genetically identical plants from the parent strain. Feminized seeds can also be made available through the process of special breeding.
Reproduction. Staminate “male” flowers and pistillate “female” flowers of the plant are used in reproduction of the plant. Usually, wind is the source of pollination in cannabis plants. Many strains of cannabis plant have the nature of short-day with some exceptions such as Canabis sativa subsp. sativa var. spontanea that can be referred to as “auto-flowering” and may be day-neutral type of plant.
Different parts of the cannabis plant
Cannabis plant has different parts, many of which can be found on any flowering plant. These parts include nodes, stem, and fan leaves. Stems of the cannabis plant are long and thin. Leaves of the plant are large and iconic extending out from areas known as nodes. On flowers of the plant, pistil, cola, calyx, and trichomes can be found. Seeds of the plant are brownish and slightly hard. Seeds produce yellowish-green oil, when they are pressed. Description of different parts of the plant is presented below:
Fruit. Fruit of this plant is a typical achene that is a type of simple dry fruit, usually, found in many flowering plants.
Stem. Stems of the cannabis plant ate furrowed and angular. They are often hollow and can be with branches or without branches. This branching or unbranching depends on the proximity of the surrounding plants in the neighborhood.
Leaves. Leaves of the cannabis plant are digitate or palmately compound in nature having serrate leaflets. Palmate pattern refers to the leaf shape in which leaflets or lobes are radiating from a common point. Leaves of the cannabis plant have a particular venation pattern. Every serration on the leaf has a central vein that extends to the tip of the leaf. The serration vein comes from lower down the central vein of the leaflet, usually, opposite to the position of, not the primary notch down, but the next notch. This shows that while moving from the midrib in the leaflet to the point of the serration, the vein helps the tip of the serration moving close by the intervening notch. Very often, the vein can pass tangent to the notch, but sometimes it passes by at a little distance and in this case a spur vein, or a pair of spur veins, moves out of the veins and attaches to the leaf margin at the absolute position of the notch. This arrangement of veins differs slightly from one variety to another and can help in differentiating cannabis leaves from leaves of other plants.
Usually, the first pair of its leaves and the top of a flowering plant has single leaflet per leaf, but this number of leaflets can increase gradually up to a maximum of thirteen leaflets per leaf. This increase in the number of leaflets is dependent upon the variety and growing conditions. These leaflets or blades have toothed margins. Lower pairs of leaf have an opposite leaf arrangement, while the upper pairs of leaf have an alternate arrangement on the primary stem of the mature plant. Usually, leaflets are 6-11 cm in length and 2-15 mm in width.
Cola. It is also known as a terminal bud. Cola is the plant’s “bud site” where closely attached female flowers bloom. Main cola, also known as the apical bud, develops at the very top position of the plant, whereas little colas develop along the budding sites below that cola. Cannabis cola can be increased in number and size by using various growing techniques such as low-stress training (LST), topping, and screen of green (ScrOG).
Calyx. Calyx refers to the whorl of sepals of a flower together making the outer floral envelope or layering of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green. Although cannabis bud appears as a knobby tangle of leaves, it is made up of calyx. Calyxes are present as tear-shaped nodules underneath tiny leaves know as “sugar leaves”. They have various sizes, shapes, and colors. Usually, calyxes have high amount of trichomes, or glands that are involved in the secretion of THC and other related cannabinoids.
Pistil. Pistils are female ovule-bearing part of the flower composed of ovary, style, and stigma (Simpson, 2011). In cannabis, pistils are tiny vibrant strands that look like little red-orange hairs coming out of the calyxes. Pistils are used to collect pollens coming from male plants. They start with a white color but with the passage of time their color darkens, so their color changes from yellow to orange to red and brown as the plant matures. Although they have an important role in reproduction of the plants, they have very little role in the potency and taste of the flower.
Trichome. Trichome is of very little size in the flowers of the cannabis plants. Trichomes can be in the form of simple hairs, i.e. covering trichomes, or they can be glandular, i.e. glandular trichomes having a resin. Cannabis bud is covered with such crystal resins. This resin, also referred to as “kief” when dry, is secreted from the translucent, mushroom-shaped glands on the leaves, calyxes, and stems. In the hot climates of the Earth, such as India and North Africa, the amount of the resin produced by the plant is so much that it looks like the sticky dew on the plant even if the plant is present under the heating sun.
Trichomes have an important role in the protection of the plant from predators and other such factors. These tiny bulbous globes produce aromatic oils known as terpenes along with other therapeutic substances such as THC. Hash production is dependent on these trichomes and their potent sugar-like resin.
Five different types of trichomes have been mentioned (Brown, 1998). These are as follows:
- Unicellular, long, smooth, curved, covering trichomes;
- Unicellular, squatter, cystolith covering trichomes that have calcium carbonate;
- Glandular trichomes, which are bulbous in nature;
- Glandular trichomes, which are without a stalk, and
- Glandular trichomes, which are capitate-stalked, i.e. having stalk.
Applications of cannabis plant
Cannabis plant is used for a wide variety of purposes ranging from medical to commercial uses. Dioecious varieties of the plant, especially female flowers, are used for drug production. These varieties are also helpful in textile fiber production. On the other hand, hermaphroditic varieties are helpful for paper and pulp production.
Medicinal uses of cannabis plant
Cannabis has a history of medicinal usage dating back to thousands of years in different cultures. Its different constituent cannabinoids including THC are often used for the treatment of disease or to reduce symptoms. It is used to decrease the problem of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy in cancer, and in the treatment of AIDS. It is also helpful in treatment of pain and muscle spasticity. Researchers are working on its medical applications but still the problem of safety and efficacy is present. Short-term use can cause minor adverse effects but is not found to be related to any major adverse effects. There are also safety concerns with this plant such as memory and cognitive issues, chances of dependence, and the risk of children, who would take the drug accidently.
Industrial uses of cannabis plant
Cannabis is of great help for industrial use and personal use. Its stem and seeds can be used in a variety of ways for the betterment of humanity.
Hemp. Stem (stalk) of the cannabis plant is used for the production of the durable soft fiber referred to as hemp. Cannabis sativa has long stem that is why it is helpful in producing lengthy fibers. In some cases, sativa varieties can grow over six meters of height. Hemp can also be considered as any foodstuff or industrial product that is not used as a drug. Many countries have special regulations in limiting the concentration of psychoactive compounds in the products labeled as hemp.
Hemp is valuable in many commercial products particularly as fibers. These products may include paper, construction materials, general textiles, and clothing. It can sustain for longer times and is stronger as compared to cotton. It is also used as the source of many foodstuffs such as hemp milk, hemp seed, and hemp oil. According to estimates, global market for hemp has over 25,000 products (Johnson, 2013).
Biomass. Cannabis can also be used as the source of biofuels. It has been found that when the biomass of cannabis is changed into fuel no harmful waste products are produced as commonly seen with radioactive sources of energy and there are minimum chances of environmental pollution as can be seen with fossil fuels. Biomass is found to be the most efficient, cheapest, and most reliable method of producing energy. Hemp can be used to produce methane, methanol and petrol. It would be interesting to know that Henry Ford's first Model T was designed to run on hemp gasoline (Banerjji, 2010).
Paper. Hemp has one of the most interesting applications of the production of paper. It has been reported that a huge amount of paper (i.e. about 75-90%) in the world was produced from cannabis hemp fiber until the end of the nineteenth century. It is helpful as it can be used to produce paper in 3-6 months as compared to trees, which can take tens of years to start giving paper. It can give twice or more times the fiber as wood chippings, and there is no need of any dangerous chemicals in the processes of paper pulping. No chlorine is required for the process of bleaching and no deadly chemicals are released into the environment.
Foodstuff. Hemp seed is one of the easiest and nutritious food crops in the world. Seed oils, produced from it, have a huge amount of essential fatty acids in the world of plants. Hemp seed oil is found to be effective in clearing the human system from cholesterol. After grinding the seeds, they can be used in porridge food, or baked into bread or cakes. Hemp seed can be grown anywhere. However, this seed is banned in many countries.
Wooden materials, plastics and paints. Hemp can replace wooden materials as it can be pressed in a number of different forms. It can help in making furniture and beams. It is more flexible and stronger as compared to timber, yet it is more environmentally and financially friendly. Isochanvre, made in France, is the process of making building material from the collection of hemp that can become a very hard mineral and can be used for construction purposes.
Hemp can also help in the production of plastics for pipes for plumbing. In fact, it can be used to make almost any product, with less pollution, that has been made with the help of plastics. Hemp seed oil has also been used to make paints and varnishes for hundreds of years.
Textiles. Most of the products of textile including nets, rope, flags, and towels were made with the help of cannabis until this century. It would be interesting to know that the original hard wearing Levi jeans were produced from cannabis. Hemp was called as the "standard fiber of the world" in 1938 by Popular Mechanics, a USA magazine. It has been reported that clothes made from hemp are softer and durable as compared to clothes made from cotton. Cotton, usually, requires more pesticide and fertilizer to grow as compared to cannabis and in this way cannabis can be of much help for clothing industry.
For burning purposes and as a lubricant. Hemp seed oil is also efficient in burning with an even amount of light without production of any soot. It can also be utilized as a lubricant.
Concluding remarks
Cannabis is not so magnanimous herb. It has a long history of over 5,000 years as the source of substances of use, misuse and abuse, of drugs and medicines, and products important for manufacturing industry. This plant has been studied not only as a man’s greatest benefactor but also as one of the man’s greatest scourges. Armies and navies in different parts of the world have used it for their benefits, and men and women used it for affection. Fashion designers used it to make clothes, and obstetricians use it to ease pain during childbirth. However, it can be a harmful plant for the plants in the surrounding. It doesn’t like to share the sunlight with other plants lying in the shade of its leaves. Its roots can take all the nutrients from the soil. It has a number of derivatives that are continuously surprising us and opening new possibilities. Research can also be done on this plant as it has been found to be of help in the treatment of Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It has also been found to be of help in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Its legality is one of the mostly talked issues as it remains a controversial drug in the twenty-first century. Since the start of the 20th century, most countries have enacted laws to stop cultivation, possession, and transfer of cannabis. However, the U.S. state of Washington was the first state to legalize cannabis in December 2012. The state of Colorado has followed the state of Washington to legalize cannabis. Uruguay became the first country to legalize production, sale and use of cannabis, in December 2013.
One thing that is of considerable importance in the use of cannabis is that even if the plant has many medical related issues, it can be used for industrial purposes as for example considering the uses of hemp it can be grown under strict conditions.
References
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Hall, W., & Pacula, R. L. (2003). Cannabis Use and Dependence: Public Health and Public Policy: Cambridge University Press.
Hoeger, W., & Hoeger, S. (2010). Lifetime Physical Fitness and Wellness: A Personalized Program: Cengage Learning.
Johnson, R. (2013, July). Hemp as an agricultural commodity. Library Of Congress Washington Dc Congressional Research Service.
Pate, D. W. (1994). Chemical ecology of Cannabis. Journal of the International Hemp Association, 2(29), 32-37.
Ritsner, M. S. (2011). Handbook of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Volume III: Therapeutic Approaches, Comorbidity, and Outcomes: Springer.
Simpson, M. G. (2011). Plant Systematics: Elsevier Science.
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