DISCUSSION 
Differing views on the taxonomy of Cannabis have generated 
much interest—perhaps more so in forensic circles than in 
scientific settings. Still, species delimitations should be deter- 
mined on the plant biology rather than on legal implications or 
societal needs (c.f., Small, 1975). 
Leaflet morphology and number do correlate well with the 
distinctive growth forms of the species (Fig. 2). Three major 
groupings of features are found, and each represents a named 
species. They are as follows: 
1. Cannabis sativa: Plants relatively tall, 5—18 feet tall or more, 
laxly branched; leaves usually palmately compound with (3) 
5-7 (11) leaflets, central leaflet lanceolate with W/L ratio 
(.05) .09-.12 (.15). Environmentally induced unifoliate 
(simple) leaves of garden plants from Thailand were also 
narrowly lanceolate. 
2. Cannabis indica: Plants short, 2-4 feet tall, pyramidal, 
compactly branched; leaflets (5) 7-11 (13), central leaflet 
oblanceolate with W/L ratios (.14) .17-.21 (.35). 
3. Cannabis ruderalis: Plants (female) very short, 0.5—2 feet 
tall, usually unbranched; leaflets 3-5 (7), central leaflet 
elliptic with W/L ratio (.10) .16-.21 (.45). 
Plant heights given are those under normal conditions; C. sativa 
can be photo-induced to flower in the seedling stage. These three 
complements of characteristics are found in wild or weedy 
settings and are maintained in the uniform garden. None of the 
features appear to be simply environmental variants. 
Features of wood anatomy also distinguished C. sativa and C. 
indica (Anderson, 1974). Study of the woods of garden samples is 
nearly complete. The additional samples are corroborative for 
those two species, and C. ruderalis wood is intermediate to that of 
the other two species but distinctive. 
Other features such as plant odor, leaf color and leaflet 
serration pattern may prove to be of taxonomic value, but they 
were not quantified in this study. Similarly, seed (achene) features 
may be helpful, but I did not collect seeds. Earlier taxonomic 
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