Cannabis: evolution and ethnobotany

Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of the natural origins and early evolution of this famous plant, highlighting its historic role in the development of human societies. Cannabis has long been prized for the strong and durable fiber in its stalks, its edible and oil-rich seeds, and the psychoactive and medicinal compounds produced by its female flowers. The culturally valuable and often irreplaceable goods derived from cannabis deeply influenced the commercial, medical, ritual, and religious practices of cultures throughou.

Description based upon print version of record.

Diffusion into Europe and the Mediterranean

Cover; CONTENTS; PREFACE; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; NOTES TO READERS; TABLE 1: ACRONYMS USED IN THIS BOOK; MAP 1: PRESENT-DAY RANGES OF CANNABIS; 1 Introduction to the Multipurpose Plant Cannabis; In the Beginning: Circumstances of Early Human Contact with Cannabis; A Brief Summary of the Long and Diverse History of Relationships between Cannabis and Humans; What Shall We Call These Plants?; Should We Praise or Condemn This Multipurpose Plant?; What We Discuss in This Book; 2 Natural Origins and Early Evolution of Cannabis; Introduction; Basic Life Cycle of Cannabis

Ecological Requirements of Cannabis: Sunlight, Temperature, Water, and SoilCannabis Origin and Evolution Studies; Central Asia: Vavilov and the Origins of Cannabis; Cannabis and Vitis; Theories for South Asian Origin of Domesticated Cannabis; Model for the Early Evolution of Cannabis; Summary and Conclusions; 3 Ethnobotanical Origins, Early Cultivation, and Evolution through Human Selection; Introduction; First Contacts: Origins of Human-Cannabis" Relationships; Transitions to Cultivation and Civilization; Earliest Uses of Cannabis: Useful Traits for Ancient People

Evolution of Cannabis through Human SelectionDisruptive Selec…