By Luke Sumpter


You’re familiar with cannabis; you’ve experienced its tastes and effects, and perhaps you've even grown it. But how well do you know the plant’s close cousins?

Cannabis belongs to a botanical family called Cannabaceae (pronounced can-uh-bay-see-ay) that consists of 170 different species. Some of these members, including hops, are quite familiar, especially to those that enjoy craft beer. However, other species in Cannabaceae include relatively unknown flowering plants and berry-bearing trees. Continue reading to take a deep dive into this plant family and become acquainted with the close relatives of the cannabis plant.

Introducing the Cannabaceae Family

Also known as the hemp family, most members of this group reside in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite their inherent relationships, you’d never draw associations between these species based on looks alone. Some of them (such as cannabis) are erect, free-standing plants with sturdy stems, whereas others (including hops) are climbing plants that grow to lengths of around 10m. The family even includes large tree species that dwell in the forests of Madagascar, Mexico, and Australia.

But how did botanists figure out that all of these species are related? Aside from cannabis and hops, which share a few visual similarities, the rest of the family don’t particularly look alike. Well, we have the advent of genetic sequencing and subsequent advances in phylogenetics to thank for this clarification. But what do these terms even mean? Don’t worry, we’re about to break it all down for you.

History of the Cannabaceae Family

Botanists have carried out taxonomic studies for centuries; by definition, taxonomy refers to the naming, defining, and classifying of biological organisms into groups based on shared characteristics. Prior to 1583, botanists lumped cannabis with genetically unrelated plants based on characteristics such as human use and leaf shape.

However, when the aforementioned year swung around, the Italian physician, philosopher, and botanist (talk about a type-A personality) Andrea Cesalpino first drew a taxonomical link[1] between cannabis and hops. Instead of categorising plants based on rudimentary characteristics, Cesalpino broke the mould and decided to bunch them together according to their essential functions, including their flowers and fruits.

This approach enabled the botanist to make an accurate association between cannabis and hops hundreds of years ago—way ahead of his time. Now, it’s understood that all species within the Cannabaceae family possess petalless flowers and produce one-seeded fruits. But other botanists strayed from these insights. Some taxonomists placed cannabis in the Urticaceae family, a group that includes over 2,000 species, particularly nettles.

In an opposing move, other botanists placed the herb within Moraceae, a family that includes mulberry, figs, jackfruit, and breadfruit.

Many early taxonomists lumped species from Cannabaceae, Urticaceae, and Moraceae together. However, during the 18th century, the French naturalist and taxonomist Michel Adanson accurately categorised Cannabis, Humulus (hops), and Celtis together, but his finding failed to gain traction. Later down the line, it was the Russian botanist and philologist Ivan Martinov that recognised the family ties between cannabis and hops, and coined the term “Cannabaceae” to provide them with a taxonomical home.

When you think about it, these botanists of old accomplished something profound. Without the use of modern tech, they played detective and grouped genetically related plants together based on visual characteristics. Now, we have genetic tools that enable modern botanists to both confirm and correct the findings of their past colleagues.

History of the Cannabaceae Family

Phylogenetics Changed the Game

Instead of relying solely upon morphological and visual traits, the study of phylogenetics harnesses genetic sequencing to bunch species together into larger families. The definition of phylogenetics[2] is “the systematic study of reconstructing the past evolutionary history of extant species or taxa, based on present-day data, such as morphologies or molecular information (sequence data)”. According to the European Bioinformatics Institute[3], the major elements of phylogenetics include:

  • Observe genetic sequences
  • Reconstruct evolutionary histories
  • Discover detailed evolutionary processes
  • Develop superior evolutionary models

Researchers that work in this field are able to construct phylogenetic trees by analysing nucleotides (the basic building blocks of DNA) and protein sequences. Once mapped out, these visual displays offer a glimpse into past events that occurred throughout the process of evolution. If you type “phylogenetic tree” into your search engine, you’ll see how all life forms, families, and species branch out from each other.

Using this technology, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group expanded the Cannabaceae family[4] by merging it with Celtidaceae. While genetic sequencing allows modern botanists to build accurate plant groups, it also helps to match these findings with similarities in morphology, phytochemistry, and ancestral reconstruction—a process that involves layering phenotypic traits on top of a phylogenetic tree. Botanists have traditionally used eight morphological characteristics[5] to classify species within Cannabaceae, including:

  • Sexual system
  • Leaf arrangement
  • Pollen aperture number (the number of soft areas on a pollen grain)
  • Aestivation (arrangement of flowers)
  • Fruit type
  • Seed coat morphology
  • Perianth (non-reproductive part of the flower) at fruiting time
  • Stipule arrangement

So, what does the Cannabaceae phylogenetic tree look like? First of all, it helps to understand the differences between a genus and a species before we go any further. In the world of binomial nomenclature, a genus ranks higher than a species in the hierarchy of classification, meaning that species similar to one another belong to the same genus, and multiple genera make up a family.

Take cannabis, for example. Some botanists claim that the Cannabis genus is monotypic and comprises only Cannabis sativa, whereas others propose it consists of three different species[6]: C. sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Following this logic, the Cannabaceae phylogenetic tree comprises nine distinct genera, each made up of a multitude of species. These genera include:

Aphananthe Gironniera
Lozanella Cannabis
Humulus Celtis
Pteroceltis Chaetachme
Trema

Within this tree, you’ll also find small clades, or groups of genera that are more closely related compared to the others. For example, Cannabis and Humulus share a clade, and so do Pteroceltis and Chaetachme. Below, we’ll explore the most interesting of these genera in greater detail to help you understand the Cannabaceae family on a deeper level.

  • Cannabis

This one needs no introduction. You’re familiar with the cannabis plant, the most prominent phytocannabinoids within its flowers, and the thousands of cultivars available. Cannabis is the most historically and economically significant genus within the Cannabaceae family.

Interestingly, researchers have found that constituents within the species impact the body very specifically via the body’s innate endocannabinoid system, and ongoing studies are continuing to uncover the potential of THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, and a wealth of terpenes.

Cannabis
  • Humulus

This small genus contains only 7 species. Among them, Humulus lupulus stands out as the most famous. This climbing plant can reach an impressive size, and possesses leaves with 7 leaflets that look fairly similar to those found on cannabis.

Much like weed, hops flowers are also packed with aromatic terpenes, including humulene, myrcene, and caryophyllene. Craft beer manufacturers take advantage of these volatile aromatic compounds to add dynamic flavours to IPAs and other brews.

Humulus
  • Celtis

Sure, hops look somewhat similar to cannabis, and both plants smell similar to boot. But other genera within the Cannabaceae family look almost nothing like plants from either of these groups. Take Celtis, for example. This genus consists of 70 species of deciduous trees that often go by the names of hackberries or nettles.

These trees are extremely widespread, residing everywhere from southern Europe to eastern Asia, South America, North America, and Africa. These giants reach heights of 25 metres, and some species are used for their high-quality wood in cabinetry.

Celtis
  • Trema

The members of this genera also look nothing like cannabis. All 15 species are evergreen trees that are closely related to their Celtis cousins. These species revel in the warmth of southern Asia, northern Australasia, Africa, and some parts of North America. They surge to heights of 20m and produce pointed leaves with serrated margins. Some species are valued for their ability to fix nitrogen and their tolerance of poor soil.

Trema

Cannabaceae — Quite the Family Reunion

Mind feeling a little blown? Don’t worry, we felt the same after we discovered cannabis’ close cousins—especially the towering trees! You now have a good grip on the basics of the Cannabaceae family, and you’re aware of how the intersection of old-school botany and modern phylogenetic technology accurately categorised the genera within. As a reward, go plan a smoke session with your friends and spread your newfound knowledge.

External Resources:
  1. Cannabis Systematics at the Levels of Family, Genus, and Species https://www.liebertpub.com
  2. Phylogenetic Invariants and Markov Invariants https://www.sciencedirect.com
  3. What is phylogenetics? | Phylogenetics https://www.ebi.ac.uk
  4. An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II https://plantnetwork.org
  5. Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution of Cannabaceae https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. Cannabis (Genus) https://www.sciencedirect.com
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

Cookies settings

We are requesting your permission to use your data for the reasons stated below:

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data from a particular website that get stored on a user’s computer while they’re surfing the internet. Cookies have several different functions. Some of them track browser activity that enables businesses to deliver targeted advertisements. Other cookies serve to remember user login details to different websites to make jumping on social media, or other sites, a more fluid process. Because each cookie has its own unique ID, these pieces of data allow website owners to measure the unique traffic coming into their site.

Why do we use cookies?

Cookies come in handy when you visit our website. They ensure you stay logged in, that you can shop safely, and that the items you add to your cart stay there before you make a purchase. But cookies also help us. The data they provide allow us to improve our website and enable us to present you with targeted advertisements that are compatible with your interests.

What kind of cookies do we use?

Functional cookies

Functional cookies help our website to function optimally and allow us to personalise certain features.

Preference cookies

Preference cookies allow us to remember information that influences the way our website looks, including your preferred language based on your region.

Analytical cookies

Analytical cookies give us insights into website traffic and customer behaviour, including how many people visit our site, how long they browse for, and which parts of our site they visit.

How can I disable or delete cookies?

Not a fan of cookies? No worries. You can disable them (with the exception of necessary cookies) in your browser settings. However, blocking cookies may impact your browsing experience and prevent you from enjoying all of the technical features of our site.

Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: