Sativa Genetic History
Cannabis sativa is an annual herb of the Cannabaceae family. Sativa is thought to be derived from Latin words meaning sown or cultivated. Sativa has it's first evidence of historical roots in China, India, the Middle East and North Africa.
Sativa has been cultivated throughout recorded history as a source of strong fiber, oil, food, and medicine. We can find historical evidence of teas and ointments. Sativa fiber was used for centuries as a major source of industrial cloth and for making paper. Oils are more abundant in sativa therefore making it a great source of essential oil throughout time. The seeds have always been a superb source of protein. To this day you'll find sativa hemp seeds in your local health food stores.
Growing wild in nature the cannabis sativa plant can be weedy or invasive. With wild growth came religious ceremonies like seed burnings, or smoke inducing trances.
The first restrictions for sale of cannabis came in 1906 in the United States of America. Canada outlawed cannabis sativa in 1923 before any reported use in the country.
Recent sativa genetic manipulation has resulted in more of an inebriant use. The cerebral effects of sativa now lead to medical breakthroughs for symptoms like amnesia and low energy levels. Cannabis can effect heart rate, blood pressure, and short term memory.
Sativa Genetic Phenotypes
Sativa cannabis genetics possess basic characteristics or phenotypes consisting of long slender leaves, lighter green in color because of less chlorophyll, more yellow pigments to protect itself from sunlight, taller plants, longer flowering tops for bigger buds, and a higher THC level than other types of cannabis which are higher in CBD. Sativa contains over 60 types of cannabinoids.
Sativa vegetative growth needs over 13 hours a day of sunlight to maintain itself in this phase. Vegetative growth can be manipulated to produce taller plants, up to 12 or more feet. The nodes grow farther apart making for a more long and narrow branch system. This plant is famous for the outdoor growing season and producing a huge harvest. This plant reaches up to the sky very rapidly.
Depending on the type of cannabis sativa and the growing environment, the maturation of the flowering stage can take anywhere from 9 to 15 weeks. The buds will be long and narrow, not too densely packed. The flowering bud may be tinged slightly purple when grown in a cooler climate, dark orange or even red in a warmer environment.
Effects of sativa cannabis is a spacey, uplifting, energetic, cerebral high feeling. Once again, "The high is dependent on the individual".
Photograph of indoor sativa.
