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What do Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis really mean?

Article Number: 231 | Rating: 4.6/5 from 11 votes | Last Updated: Mon, May 17, 2010 12:00 AM

Q: What are the differences between Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Ruderalis?

A: The technical classification of the different (sub)species of the Cannabis genus has been a matter of controversy for centuries. We won't go into that whole debate here, as there are plenty of websites that already have (Wikipedia, for one).

For recreational/cultivating purposes, it is useful to distinguish three subtypes of cannabis: sativa, indica and ruderalis.

Cannabis sativa
The term sativa is used to indicate cannabis that grows in tall, lanky plants with wide branches, either bamboo- or Christmas tree-shaped. Sativa strains are usually higher in THC and lower in CDB, meaning their effect is cerebral, i.e. it works on the mind rather than the body. The high can be energising or uplifting, making you feel giddy, happy, social or trippy.

Cannabis indica
The term indica designates cannabis that grows on short, dense, bushy plants. Indica strains are popular for indoor grows, especially when space is limited. Indicas usually show higher levels of CDB than sativas, making for a heavier, stonier effect, also known as a body stone, body buzz or couchlock stone. Indicas may make you feel drowsy, sedated and even numb, and their effect can be pain-killing, sleep-inducing and calming.

Cannabis ruderalis
This term is used to refer to the short, stocky cannabis plants that grow wild in Europe and Central Asia. Ruderalis plants are not dependent on light cycles to start flowering, which is why autoflowering strains contain ruderalis genes.

Of course, most modern cannabis strains are carefully bred to produce hybrids. These combine the best of their ancestor's traits, and often even more strongly so! This phenomenon, called hybrid vigour, is also explained in the Glossary. To read more about picking the right strain type for your needs, also see this article: What is your strongest strain?

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