Greetings, cannabis connoisseurs! We have an insightful update for those interested in the intricate details of cannabis floral architecture.
A study published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science delves into the architecture and flower development of female Cannabis sativa plants, providing valuable knowledge that can enhance cultivation techniques and plant breeding.
As you may know, female cannabis plants are responsible for producing the resin-rich flowers, or buds, highly prized for their medicinal and recreational properties. To optimize cultivation practices, understanding the growth patterns and flower development of female plants is crucial.
Researchers in this study conducted a detailed examination of female Cannabis sativa plants, focusing on their growth patterns, branching architecture, and phyllotaxy throughout the life cycle. They discovered that the plant’s architecture is significantly influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The number and arrangement of branches, inflorescence density, and flower distribution are determined by the interplay between the plant’s genotype and its growing conditions.
One of the study’s key findings is the identification of three distinct stages of flower development in female cannabis plants: prefloral, floral initiation, and flower development. During the prefloral stage, the plant’s architecture and branching patterns are established, with vegetative growth occurring at the apical meristem. The floral initiation stage is characterized by the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, marking the beginning of flower bud formation. Finally, the flower development stage involves the growth, maturation, and differentiation of the buds, with an increase in the number of pistillate flowers.
Another crucial discovery is the highly branched compound raceme structure of Cannabis sativa inflorescence. When cannabis plants were exposed to a short photoperiod, compressed inflorescences developed at the top of the main stem and on second- and third-order branches. Each inflorescence was composed of condensed higher-order branchlets, maintaining the same phytomer structure as those developed under long day conditions. These structures consisted of reduced leaves (sugar leaves), bracts, one or two solitary flowers, and an axillary shoot. This means that the structure of solitary flowers that we see in the axils in the vegetative stage is maintained in the buds albeit in much more compressed form (Fig. 1).
![](https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/447153/fpls-10-00350-HTML/image_m/fpls-10-00350-g002.jpg)
In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive look at the complex world of female cannabis flower development. The study showed that cannabis buds consist of a the same phytomer structure as solitary flowers in the pre-floral stage but at a reduced scale, almost like a fractal image of itself. We highly recommend a more details look at the research article for those interested in furthering their understanding of female cannabis floral architecture.
Reference
Spitzer-Rimon B, Duchin S, Bernstein N, Kamenetsky R (2019) Architecture and florogenesis in female Cannabis sativa plants. Frontiers in Plant Science 10: 350