Some features of Cannabis anatomy are relatively well 
known, suchas the economically important phloem (bast) 
fibres. These aspects have been reviewed by Hayward, 
1948: Metcalfe and Chalk, 1950. Considerable attention 
has also been given to cystolithic hairs (Pireyre, 1961) 
and laticifers in Cannabis. 
With the recent attention devoted to taxonomic prob- 
lems in Cannabis (Schultes et al., 1974: Stearn, 1974), 
I am pleased to present this introductory account on 
comparative wood anatomy. It includes apparently the 
first technical description of wood identified with vouch- 
ered material as C. ¢ndica Lam. 
Merruops AND Matrerias 
All materials were collected fresh and preserved in 
formalin-propriono-alcohol (FPA). Woods were sec- 
tioned on a sliding microtome at 20 h. Some sections of 
cach sample were stained in safranin © and counter- 
stained with fast green FCF and orange G: others were 
stained only with safranin. ‘Tissues were mounted in 
Permount. 
Xylem features were microscopically measured with a 
‘alibrated ocular micrometer: a minimum of 50 measure- 
ments were made for each feature reported in ‘Table 1. 
Polarizing filters aided study of cell wall structure and 
crystals. Statistical analyses were made on a Wang 600 
computer with the assistance of Dr. M. P. Johnson. 
The material of C. indica came from a wild population 
at Pashimool, west of Kandahar, Afghanistan, R. 1. 
Schultes 26505 (Keon. Herb. Oakes Ames); that of C. 
sativa came trom a naturalized population in Pottawato- 
mie County, Kansas, United States, 1. C. Anderson 
3668 (Fla. State Univ.). 
Resuirs 
Details of wood anatomy are illustrated in Figs. 1-6, 
30 | 
