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THC Living Plant Atlas system
Sex, Pollen & Seeds
Staminate and pistillate development, XX/XY chromosome context, early sex-biased regulation, ethylene-mediated sexual plasticity, mixed-sex expression, anther maturation and dehiscence, pollen biology and fitness, pollination, fertilization, seed formation, and controlled crossing.
10 structured lessons6 learning goals17 indexed topics
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Next unfinished lessonMale vs female preflowers
Continue learningConnected biology
This system does not work alone.
Reproductive expression connects developmental timing, flower structure, pollen movement, fertilization, and the next seed generation.
Follow the connection
FlowersFemale flower anatomy, condensed inflorescence architecture, reproductive phytomers, floral meristems, bracts, ovary and ovule, stigmas, photoperiod-driven shoot-apex reorganization, pollination, maturation, senescence, trichome development, and disease-risk inspection.Nodes & BranchingNode and phytomer anatomy, axillary-bud establishment and release, apical dominance, phyllotaxy, developmental transitions, pruning plasticity, topping, FIM, LST, mainlining, SCROG, and branch biomechanics.Seed & GerminationAchene and true-seed anatomy, imbibition, reserve mobilization, radicle emergence, cotyledon establishment, thermal response, water potential, salinity, vigor, aging, storage, pericarp effects, priming, and failure patterns.Diagnostic OverlayObservation-first diagnostic overlay for symptom location and progression, environmental and root-zone context, nutrient tissue analysis, root/crown biotic-versus-abiotic clues, senescence, pest and pathogen evidence, differential diagnosis, evidence weighting, and confirmatory testing.
Developmental context
Measure or record with it
- Node or flower-site location
- Expression timing
- Pollen isolation status
- Seed development stage
- Cross labels and records
Interactive visual lab
Reproductive Structure Lab
Sex expression is identified from reproductive structures, not overall plant shape. Inspect nodes and flowers closely and distinguish normal female, male, and mixed/intersex structures.
Compare reproductive structures
Female flower
- bract
- stigmas emerging from floral tissue
- glandular trichomes increase during flower development
A single pair of stigmas at a node can be an early female cue, but inspect multiple sites as the plant develops.
Pair the visual with these observations
node structuresflower interiorclusters vs individual structurestiming of appearancepollen evidencedeveloping seeds
Learning objectives
What this system should teach
Visual curriculum
Sex, Pollen & Seeds lesson sequence
Each lesson is structured around a visual reference so the Atlas can replace dry text-first learning with observation and diagrams.Lesson 01
Male vs female preflowers
Compare developing staminate and pistillate structures at nodes using multiple views and developmental stages.
Open visual lessonMale/female comparison plate
Lesson 02
Mixed-sex expression
Identify anthers or staminate structures appearing on otherwise female plants and distinguish observations from assumptions about cause.
Open visual lessonMixed-sex structure reference
Lesson 03
Pollen biology
Follow pollen production, release, transport, stigma contact, and the first steps toward fertilization.
Open visual lessonPollen pathway diagram
Lesson 04
Seed formation
Track ovule fertilization through developing seed coat, embryo, filling, and physical maturity.
Open visual lessonSeed development cutaway series
Lesson 05
Controlled pollination
Map isolation, pollen handling, target selection, labeling, and record keeping as the core observational workflow for intentional crosses.
Open visual lessonControlled-pollination workflow
Lesson 06
Fertilization & seed filling
Separate pollen arrival from successful fertilization, then follow embryo development, reserve accumulation, seed-coat maturation, and the progression toward physical seed maturity.
Open visual lessonPollen contact to embryo and seed-filling sequence
Lesson 07
Sex chromosomes & early gene regulation
Connect the common XX/XY chromosome system documented in dioecious hemp with sex-linked and sex-biased gene expression that can precede visible floral differentiation, while avoiding the claim that one gene alone determines every expression outcome.
Open visual lessonXX/XY chromosome context to early sex-biased expression timeline
Lesson 08
Ethylene-mediated sexual plasticity
Separate chromosomal sex from phenotypic floral expression by tracing how ethylene signaling and interacting developmental or environmental factors can modify reproductive morphology, without implying that hormone response rewrites chromosome complement.
Open visual lessonChromosomal sex versus ethylene-responsive floral expression model
Lesson 09
Anther maturity, dehiscence & pollen release
Follow microspore and pollen maturation into anther opening and pollen release, emphasizing developmental stage and structure rather than assigning one fixed day or node to all Cannabis genotypes.
Open visual lessonAnther maturation and dehiscence microscope sequence
Lesson 10
Pollen viability, germination & storage
Compare staining or non-abortion observations with actual in-vitro pollen germination, then connect collection conditions, moisture, temperature, storage duration, and thawing or rehydration procedures to measured fitness rather than assuming visible pollen is viable.
Open visual lessonPollen fitness assay and storage-condition comparison
Reference index
Topics connected to this system
Female flowersMale flowersXX/XY chromosomesSex-linked regulationEthylene signalingSexual plasticityMixed-sex expressionAnthersAnther dehiscencePollen releasePollen viabilityPollen germinationPollen storagePollinationFertilizationSeed formationControlled pollination