A landrace strain is a variety of cannabis plant that has less diluted DNA than other strains of cannabis. To take the distinction even further, landrace strains are usually indigenous to a certain part of the world (meaning they have adapted to the environment of a specific geographic location). And since these landrace strains are the original cannabis plant from that area, descendants from those strains often bear part of the region’s name. While currently only 5-6 landrace strains have made it to the modern era, I have hope that can be changed one day. Though not lie bringing back the original blueberry isn't exactly like bringing a mammoth back to life for example, it presents its own particular issues that are almost unique to cannabis in some respects.
From what I can gather there are 6 modern land race strains.
Hindu Kush, Pakistan
Pure Afghan, Afghanistan
Lamb’s Bread, Jamaica
Acapulco Gold, Mexico
Durban Poison, Africa
Thai or (Thai stick), Thailand
All landrace photos courtesy of leafly.com
Why are land race strains important
Remember, landrace strains aren’t stronger, more potent, or better in some way. They’re just less diluted (genetically speaking) than other strains. While this doesn't sound very important, It’s good to know about landrace strains they are a glimpse of a less hybridized cannabis. While perhaps no different to the average consumer these could potentially represent crucial data sets for coding marijuanas genetic lineage.
lazarus taxon toking?
In paleontology, a Lazarus taxon is a taxon that disappears for one or more periods from the fossil record, only to appear again later. Likewise in conservation biology and ecology, it can refer to species or populations that were thought to be extinct, and are rediscovered. Though not traditionally applied in cases concerning plants, especially just a subset mutation population (IE) cannabis strains. Lazarus taxon could be applied to cannabis in certain circumstances due to the fact that extremely old remains could potentially be cloned, or replicated in modern plants utilizing genetic engineering.
Many strains have in fact been cross bread out of existence due to the lack of regulation and cannabises legal status. Light of jah is one such strain that both came into existence and disappeared in my lifetime. Reclamation of what is lost to time starts as close to the beginning that we can manage. Landraces are important for this form of research but oddly enough, may not be our only source of clean genetics.
Nearly two pounds of still-green plant material found in a 2,700-year-old grave in the Gobi Desert has just been identified as the world's oldest marijuana stash, according to a paper in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany.
A barrage of tests proves the marijuana possessed potent psychoactive properties and casts doubt on the theory that the ancients only grew the plant for hemp in order to make clothing, rope and other objects.
outro
Though cannabis strains are not the first thing any one thinks of when the topic of cloning extinct species maybe it should be. Undoing the damage done by repeated mutations is a skill set that could potentially help many other domesticated species with the same issues. Plants are easier plane and simple start with weed and if we play our cards right we might even figure out where dogs come from.
Yeah Totally mind blowing fact but we still dont know where or when the first canines where domesticated. Another fun fact for shits and giggles horses first evolved in north America after some migrated via land bridges? A mass extinction took place in north America, & ironically their ancestors where brought back via European colonization. The moral of the story is we have unintentionally/intentionally damaged almost everything we domesticated. Cannabis is an oddity with varying levels of genetic damage and centuries old specimens.
Tried to find a land race for this but none where listed in the dispensary's I checked so I settled for 10th planet.
Feel free to utilize this cana-curate image ill experiment with more of weedcashe
logos soon
you could also drop a comment if you want any of the original pngs of the weedcash emblems
The story of landrace cannabis is such an interesting part of our history! If it where not for all these landrace, we would not have the variety of cannabis we have today. I would like to add to the list you made, the famous landrace Malawi Gold
I knew i missed some i just chose what leafly considered obtainable but i also left off Panama Red, Central America due to leafly not having it listed and their the weed authority.
Have you ever seen Strain Hunters?
!ENGAGE 14.20
literally why I'm obsessed with land races and extinct strains Strain hunters great show better life
ENGAGEtokens.