Best book on cannabis botany?

[hamhurricane]

After spending a thanksgiving weekend with a group of hardcore stoners and growers from my hometown the question of "what, exactly, are the red hairs on a bud?" came up. Even (or especially) amid a group of weed aficionados nobody was able to produce a coherent answer - which lead me to realize I know very little about the botany of cannabis.

Would anyone recommend a book on the botany of said plant, I am not interested in growing cannabis, but am looking specifically for a book which outlines the the biosynthesis of THC and other cannabinoids as well as the reproductive cycle of the plant and something that might address exactly what those red hairs are (cystoliths?).

Thanks

 

[amanitadine]

Its been a long time, and never my specific forte, but back when I cared the only reasonable book was "Marijuana Botany" by Robert Clarke. Actually readable, and gives some great info, but may be more focused on genetics and breeding than what you are looking for? Cant remember if he goes much into the biosynthesis of cannabinoids though. I've always believed (somebody correct me if I am wrong...wait, do I need to ask? :D) the red hairs are just dried up pistils. Cystoliths are deposits of calcium carbonate in enlarged surface cells, not a feature of cannabis, but one could (depending on their bong hit intake) maybe confuse such with trichomes (the "crystals" on cannabis).

cheers

most of the cannabis books are pretty fucking moronic, but I am sure there has got to be something better out there now.....

 

[Blowmonkey]

Marijuana Botany: Propagation and Breeding of Distinctive Cannabis by Robert Connell Clarke is up there with the best. If you want to know more about biosynthesis you should look for Mahmoud ElSohly's books/articles, maybe start with Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. The Biotechnology of Cannabis sativa from Sam Zwenger is another more recent one which also goes into tissue culture.

Excerpt from the first book, it's about the "hairs":

The term pistil has developed a special meaning with respect to Cannabis which differs slightly from the precise botanical definition.
This has come about mainly from the large number of cultivators who have casual knowledge of plant anatomy but an intense interest in the reproduction of Cannabis.
The precise definition of pistil refers to the combination of ovary, style and stigma. In the more informal usage, pistil refers to the fused style and stigma. The informal sense is used throughout the book since it has become common practice among Cannabis cultivators.

 

[hamhurricane]

most of the cannabis books are pretty fucking moronic, but I am sure there has got to be something better out there now.....

Yes, hence the question!

Cystoliths are deposits of calcium carbonate in enlarged surface cells, not a feature of cannabis, but one could (depending on their bong hit intake) maybe confuse such with trichomes (the "crystals" on cannabis).

Not sure how, reliable the info is but this link suggests there are cystoliths on cannabis.

[Cystolyths] are most common on the leaf underside. Cystolith glands exude insecticidal and miticidal substances to gum up pest mouth-parts and repel them but they have no THC

 

[amanitadine]

^^ A lot more reliable than me I'm sure...........

*edit* - and duh, yup, cannabis does have a distinctly different non-thc containing trichome that qualifies as a cystolith. Just a bit different than what automatically sprang to my mind, ie ficus style.

 

[melange]

nothing better imo

 

[hamhurricane]

Not interested in horticulture per se, I just bought a copy of Marijuana Botany by Robert Clarke though, so thanks for all of your replies!

 

[MurphyClox]

I'm a bit late on this... Never have looked much into this kind topic, but my recommendation would have been "Marijuana Botany" by Robert Clarke, too. I have that one in my own library and it answered all my questions so far. You asked for

but am looking specifically for a book which outlines the the biosynthesis of THC and other cannabinoids as well as the reproductive cycle of the plant and something that might address exactly what those red hairs are (cystoliths?).

That book is the perfect choice!

PEACE! - Murphy