Plant Morphology
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Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant
Division — Magnoliophyta (flowering plants or angiosperms)
Class — Magnoliopsida
Order — Urticales
Family — Cannabinaceae
Genus — Cannabis
Species — sativa
Cannabis sativa is an annual belonging to the nettle family. It grows from 5 to 15 feet in height with rich dark-green leaves composed of 5 to 9 serrated, narrow, tapering leaflets that are pointed at the end and measure 2 to 5 inches in length and approximately one-sixth as wide.
Hemp is tall, thin plant with most of its leaves concentrated at the top. In contrast to the commercial hemp plant, the marijuana plant is quite dense, leafier, shorter, bushier, and is planted yards apart.
PM - 01:Stem structure
The innermost layer is the pith, surrounded by woody material known as hurds. Outside of this layer is the growing tissue which develops into hurds on the inside and into the bast fibers on the outside.
PM - 02:Branching
The stem is more or less branched, depending on the crop density. When sown thickly the stems do not branch. The leaves are of a palmate type and each leaf has 7 to 11 leaflets, with serrated edges.
PM - 03:Root structure
The strong tap-root penetrates deep into the soil. However, if the soil conditions are unfavorable, the main root remains short, while lateral roots become more developed.
PM - 04: Soils
Industrial hemp can be grown on a wide variety of soil types. Hemp prefers a sufficiently deep, well-aerated soil with a pH pf 6 or greater, along with good moisture and nutrient holding capacity. Poorly drained soils, however, are not recommended as excess water after heavy rains can result in damage to the hemp crop.
PM - 05:Soil Preparation
A fine, firm seedbed is required for fast, uniform germination of hemp seed. Conventional seedbed preparation and drilling are probably ideal. The seedlings will not emerge uniformly if the seed is placed to a depth greater than 2 inches.
PM - 03: Stem
The innermost layer is the pith, surrounded by woody material known as hurds.
Outside of this layer is the growing tissue which develops into hurds on the inside and into the bast fibers on the outside.
PM - 04: Branching
The stem is more or less branched, depending on the crop density. When sown thickly the stems do not branch. For obtaining good fiber quality, it is better to plant hemp in close proximity, so that long branches are not developed.
PM - 05: Leaves
They are palmately compound or digitate, composed of 5 to 9 serrated, narrow, tapering leaflets that are pointed at the end and measure 5 to 13 cm. in length and approximately 0.40 cm. of wide.
PM - 06: Flowers
The plant has flowers that bloom from late summer to mid-fall, they usually have one of two types of flowers, male or female, and some plants have both.
Male flowers grow in elongated clusters along the leaves and turn yellow and die after blossoming. Female flowers grow in spikelike clusters and remain dark green for a month after blossoming, until the seed ripens.
PM - 07: Soil
Industrial hemp can be grown on a wide variety of soil types. Hemp prefers a sufficiently deep, well-aerated soil with a pH pf 6 or greater, along with good moisture and nutrient holding capacity. Poorly drained soils, however, are not recommended as excess water after heavy rains can result in damage to the hemp crop.
A fine, firm seedbed is required for fast, uniform germination of hemp seed.
Conventional seedbed preparation and drilling are probably ideal. The seedlings will not emerge uniformly if the seed is placed to a depth greater than 5 cm.
PHYTOMORPHOLOGY
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PM - 00: GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Hemp, (Cannabis Sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant.
Division — Magnoliophyta (flowering plants or angiosperms)
Class — Magnoliopsida
Order — Rosales
Family — Cannabinaceae
Genus — Cannabis
Species — Sativa
Subspecie — Sativa
Cannabis Sativa, grows from 4 to 5 meters in height; it is a tall and thin plant with most of its dark-green leaves concentrated at the top.
It matures in about three to four months.
It should be harvested before it flowers. This early cropping is done because fiber quality declines if flowering is allowed.
Hemp has little-to-no need for pesticides, because it is highly resistant to plant diseases, illnesses, and pests.
PM - 01: Seed
Elliptical shaped, its dimensions are approximatedly 2 mm. of length, per 0.5 mm of diameter, in the center. Dark grey colored, with darker spots.
PM - 02: Roots
The strong tap-root penetrates deep into the soil.
However, if the soil conditions are unfavorable, the main root remains short, while lateral roots become more developed.
This dense root structure, can smother out invasive weeds and make that land again arable.
Hemp Biology and Botany
