Cannabaceae Cannabis sativa L.

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Keywords in this picture :

• Foliage
• Vegetative
• Inflorescence
• Flower & fruit
• Plant parts

Places where this species can be found :

• Grenada - GRENADA

Species information

Interest
Cannabis was Greek for hemp. New world in post-Columbian. China >4,500 yrs ago. Once the best form of canvas (derived from Cannabis). Subsp. indica=narcotic, var . kafiristanica=wilnd; subsp. sativa=fibre, (wild=var. spontanea) from Central Asia, valued by Chinese 6500 BC as sole source of fibre; as a fibre plant it often reaches 6m in height (once recognised as a variety, var, gigantea). It came to Europe in 1000-2000BC; to Chile in 1545. Until 19th C, it was the most important cordage fibre. Narcotics, China 3000 BC, esp developed India in last 1000 years. (Simmons & Smartt, 1995). Maybe the narcotic principles only evolved in the hotter climates once it was moved to India. Galen of Pergamos states that it in 200 AD it was customary to give guests hemp seeds, probably with resin on their seed coats, to eat, to promote hilarity (Burkill, 1925). It is probably the biggest cash crop in the US, worth 32 $Billion (Mabberley, 1997). Ganja (female fl heads); bhanf (mature leaves); charas (resin from stems and leaves). Hemp seed oil was sued to fiuel Nazi tanks. Used in treatments for arthitis and asthma in Grenada (Politi, 1996), and elsewhere to treat glaucoma (Politi, 1996) Thus the leaves and smaller stalks, dried and broken coarsely, and intermixed with a few capsules, is known as Mang (Hindustan), siddhi (Bengal), sabzi (Bombay), and hashish (Arabia). Our modern term assassin is said to have arisen from this word, the name Hashshashin (assassin), having been applied to a murderous Persian sect, which, in its religious rites, used hemp (hashish) to intoxication. Bhang is almost tasteless, and is of a dark-green color. It is smoked with tobacco, or without the latter, but usually is incorporated into a sweetmeat known as majun. The flowering and fruiting tops, from which the resin has not been removed, are known as ganja, ganjah, or gunjah in India, and as guaza in London and other drug markets. The green plant collected in the spring, and 2 or 3 twigs placed in or between beds, will, it is asserted, certainly and effectually cause bedbugs to remove from the room in which they are used.

Specimen information

Collector
Hawthorne, W.D.

Specimen Number
s.n.