Plain-language terms for reading cannabis strain records. Definitions explain the terminology; they do not authenticate a sample or provide medical advice.
- Alias
- An alternative name recorded for a strain. A matching alias helps with navigation but does not independently prove that every use of the name refers to the same genetics.
- Aroma
- A description of how a sample smells. An aroma tag is a sensory report, not a laboratory identification of the compounds responsible.
- Batch
- A defined group of material produced or handled together. Results for one tested batch do not automatically apply to another batch with the same strain name.
- Breeder
- A person or organization associated with developing or releasing a cultivar. Similar names can appear in different breeder releases.
- Cannabinoid
- One of a group of compounds found in cannabis, including THC and CBD. A named strain does not establish the concentration in an individual sample.
- CBD
- Cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that does not produce the same intoxicating effect as THC. A missing CBD value is not evidence of absence.
- Certificate of analysis (COA)
- A laboratory document reporting results for an identified sample. Read its sample identity, date, methods and scope; the existence of a document alone does not verify every product claim.
- Chemotype
- A way of grouping plants by chemical characteristics. It concerns chemistry rather than a guarantee attached to a familiar strain name.
- Clone
- A plant propagated vegetatively from another plant. A clone label is a provenance claim; the name alone cannot authenticate it.
- Cultivar
- A cultivated plant variety. Cannabis strain names often function as informal cultivar labels, with varying levels of documented identity.
- Dominant hybrid
- A conventional hybrid classification emphasizing indica or sativa. It should not be read as a measured chemical profile or a reliable prediction of effects.
- Effect report
- A subjective description of an experience. Reports can help describe patterns in testimony without guaranteeing an outcome for another person or sample.
- F1
- The first filial generation of a specified parental cross. The term is meaningful in relation to the documented breeding context, not merely as a marketing label.
- F2
- A second filial generation in a specified breeding scheme. The label alone does not describe which traits were selected or how consistent the offspring are.
- Flavor
- A description of taste or flavor impression. Flavor tags are not interchangeable with measured terpene concentrations.
- Genotype
- The genetic constitution of an organism. A directory name or visible appearance is not an independent genotype test.
- Hybrid
- A broad conventional classification associated with mixed ancestry. A hybrid label alone does not establish a precise indica/sativa ratio.
- Indica
- A conventional classification used in strain descriptions. Its use in a catalog should not be treated as a laboratory result or a guarantee of sedation.
- Landrace
- A locally adapted plant population shaped over time in a particular region and cultivation context. A modern strain claiming landrace ancestry is a separate reported relationship.
- Lineage
- An account of parentage and ancestry. A reported lineage remains a claim unless the supporting evidence establishes more.
- Parent strain
- A strain named as a parent in a reported cross. Parent names can be ambiguous, disputed or release-specific.
- Phenotype
- Observable characteristics shaped by genetic and environmental factors. Plants sharing ancestry can show different traits.
- Potency
- A measure of strength in a stated chemical or testing context. One concentration figure is not a complete measure of quality or personal effect.
- Release
- A particular version or selection issued by a breeder or producer. Release-specific facts should not automatically be generalized to every strain with a similar name.
- Reported value
- A value retained from a published account. The label identifies its evidential status and does not imply independent testing by Hemp Lookup.
- Ruderalis
- A classification associated with a distinct cannabis botanical grouping and commonly discussed in autoflower breeding. Specific ancestry still needs evidence for the entry concerned.
- Sativa
- A conventional classification used in strain descriptions. It should not be treated as proof of a particular chemical composition or an energizing effect.
- Selection
- A plant or line chosen from a population for particular traits. The selection context matters when interpreting consistency and identity.
- Terpene
- One of a large class of aromatic compounds occurring in many plants. A flavor description by itself does not establish which terpenes were measured in a sample.
- THC
- Tetrahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid associated with impairing effects. A strain-level listing is not a personal dose recommendation or a test of a particular batch.
- Trichome
- A small plant surface structure. Glandular trichomes on cannabis are associated with resin production; a photograph cannot establish a sample’s cannabinoid concentration.
- Unresolved lineage
- A parentage account that remains uncertain or disputed. Hemp Lookup does not turn competing accounts into one established family relationship.
Put these terms into practice with the family explorer, comparison guide and THC and CBD guide.