Diseases, pest infestations, poor environment and deficiencies can all make cannabis plants look a bit weird. But this article is all about DNA mutations, which can give rise to even stranger looking plants!
All the genetic information needed to make a plant is found in its DNA. DNA is a helical molecule, composed of two spiral strands that are connected by ‘rungs’ called base pairs. A single DNA molecule, or chromosome, contains hundreds of individual genes, each of which is made up of thousands of base pairs. Mutations arise when a plant’s DNA is altered.
There are two types of DNA mutations, gene mutations and chromosome mutations. In a gene mutation, the order of bases on a strand of DNA is changed. A chromosome mutation may take several forms: the order of the genes on the chromosome can change; genes can be duplicated or deleted; and genes can even break off of one chromosome and join onto another. The number of chromosomes can also increase in a mutation known as polyploidity (discussed in more detail below).
Gene and chromosome mutations occur naturally, generally at a low frequency. Higher rates of mutation occur when the DNA is damaged by a mutagenic agent such as a chemical, like colchicine, caffeine or mustard gas, or by UV, X-ray or gamma ray radiation.
Often these DNA alterations are detrimental to the plant and are not passed on to subsequent generations. But desirable or neutral traits sometimes arise through random mutations. Such traits can often be stabilised through selective breeding or natural selection. Exceptional strains can result from random, beneficial mutations.
This article covers both one-off mutations of the type that might pop up occasionally in a single plant, and mutations that have been stabilised through natural selection or selective breeding.
1) Whorled phyllotaxy
Phyllotaxy is the botanical term for the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem. The basic leaf arrangements are opposite and alternate (also known as spiral). In the case of opposite phyllotaxy, two leaves originate from the same position on the stem, while in alternate phyllotaxy each leaf originates from a unique point on the stem. Whorled phyllotaxy is an interesting variant where several leaves arise from the same point on the stem.
Young cannabis plants display opposite phyllotaxy, with alternate phyllotaxy becoming evident as the plant nears sexual maturity. Whorled phyllotaxy is a relatively common cannabis mutation, and causes three or more leaves to grow from each node rather than the usual two. Along with the extra leaf or leaves, an extra branch is also generated at each node, meaning that plants with whorled phyllotaxy often grow extra bushy!
Whorled phyllotaxy is pretty and may lead to somewhat greater yields, but is generally considered relatively useless to breeders as the trait usually disappears with any efforts to develop true-breeding strains.
2) Webbed Leaves
The ‘Ducksfoot’ is a variety of cannabis that has extremely wide, webbed leaves reminiscent of the webs between the toes of a duck’s foot, hence its delightfully descriptive name! During the vegetative period, Ducksfoot (as well as the many crosses it has spawned) looks practically nothing like a cannabis plant, and even in full flower, its appearance and smell are highly deceptive.
Leaf-webbing is considered a useful mutation, as it can successfully be developed into true-breeding strains that are advantageous to growers that wish to disguise their crop, without sacrificing potency.
3) Creeper
The creeper phenotype is a strange mutation that is generally found in tropical strains, which often grow extremely large, in very humid conditions. Rather than focussing their energy on producing a large central cola, some of these tropical strains grow such large and heavy lower branches that they can bow down to touch the ground. At that point, the branches continue to grow along the ground. In common with many other plants, it may even form new root sites where the underside of the stem touches the ground!
The creeper phenotype has the potential to be useful, as it somewhat disguises the plant, and may also confer some extra vigour via extra rooting sites. However, this phenotype appears to be rare, and has not been developed into any known strains.
4) Australian Bastard Cannabis (ABC)
This rare and unusual mutation was, according to internet-forum wisdom, first found in the countryside near Sydney, Australia in the 1970s or ‘80s, where it was known as cannabis australis (not a proper botanical name) or Bindi Buds. About as unlike a regular cannabis plant as a mutant can ever be, this strange anomaly grows more like a shrub than a classic Christmas tree shape, and its leaves are non-serrated, smooth and shiny like those of a succulent, with each leaflet reaching no more than 5cm in length.
The unusual leaf shape is associated with improved hardiness and cold tolerance, making it well adapted to its territorial range in southern New South Wales and Victoria, both of which are among the cooler parts of Australia.
When the plant was introduced to the rest of the world in the 1990s it was dubbed Australian Bastard Cannabis, or ABC for short.
The original ABC was low in cannabinoids, but some underground breeders who experimented with the strain managed to produce plants that looked like the ABC but had significantly greater THC levels.
The ABC made ripples in growing circles when it first appeared around a decade ago, but despite initial promise with breeding programs, it appears that no strains have been made commercially available. The challenge for breeders is that the characteristic leaf shape was found to be highly recessive, and therefore hard to pass on to its progeny. The hardiness and cold tolerance of the ABC was, however, evident in the crosses.
5) Vine-like cannabis
This is where things start to get a little murky. Several of the underground breeders who experimented with the ABC genetic reported producing crosses that actually had vine-like characteristics, including the ability to form stems that wrap in a spiral pattern around each other.
This mutation appears to be extremely rare, and does not seem to have been noted beyond these few anomalous experiments. Beyond its rarity and extremely unusual appearance, the vine characteristic does not appear to be highly advantageous, and no commercial strains have ever been developed.
6) Leaf buds
Typically, flower sites on cannabis plants occur at the nodes, at the same point that the petioles (stalks of leaves) originate from. However, a relatively common mutation can cause buds to form at the other end of the petiole, at the base of the leaves themselves. This is sometimes called a piggyback mutation.
This mutation is unusual and interesting in appearance, and is often thought to be advantageous due to the extra bud sites. However, in reality it is probably better to remove these leaves as soon as they are observed, as buds yielded from these sites are usually tiny, and take up nutrients that could be put towards developing your main flower sites.
7) Polyploidism
Polyploids are individual organisms that possess a greater number of of chromosomes than is normal for the species they belong to. Polyploidism underlies the phenomenon of hybrid vigour, where crosses of two closely related species display higher yields and improved resistance to drought or disease. For example, durum wheat (used to make pasta) is a polyploid form of wheat created via an inter-species cross of two grasses with the typical chromosome count.
Cannabis is a diploid plant, with two sets of chromosomes. Rare instances of spontaneous polyploidism can occur if the normal process of cell division malfunctions during development, and it can be also be induced in plants that would otherwise develop normally by treatment with a powerful mutagenic chemical called colchicine. Colchicone is highly toxic and should only be handled by those who understand the risks and know how to mitigate them!
Polyploidism has been widely exploited in fruit and vegetable growing, and two potential applications of polyploidism in cannabis have been investigated: tetraploids for increased yield and potency and triploids for seedless buds.
Tetraploid plants (with four sets of chromosomes) have the potential to increase yield and potency. This has been investigated by Buddha Seeds and reported in the International Cannagraphic Magazine forums. Disappointingly, no compelling advantages of the tetraploid plants over the diploid versions were observed. This is not the only study to question the received wisdom that tetraploid plants are more potent than duploids: a study of polyploidism in hemp found that tetraploids had more protein, starch and flavonoids than diploids, but less THC.
If a tetraploid plant is crossed with a diploid plant, the offspring are triploid (3 sets), and should be infertile and seedless, opening up the exciting possibility of producing sensimillia in mixed fields of males and females. In the case of cannabis, triploids did exhibit reduced amounts of seeds compared to diploids, but fell far short of the absolute seedlessness required for sensimilla production.
8) Stringy” Cannabis
In stringy cannabis the calyxes grow all along branch rather than in clusters. Such plants yield less and can be a pain to harvest, but they can be very potent. Dr Grinspoon, the heirloom sativa strain named after Lester Grinspoon, author of the ground-breaking 1970s book ‘Marihuana Reconsidered’, is an example of a strain that exhibits stringy buds as its usual growth pattern.
The “stringy” tendency appears to be present mainly in intensively-bred sativa lines of Southeast Asian or South American background. Stringy strains take a long time to flower, exhibit a high degree of hermaphroditism, and yield very little – but their unique appearance, aroma and effects have won them many fans nonetheless.
9) Twin seedlings
Another common mutation found in cannabis is polyembryonic seeds. Polyembryonic seeds contain more one seedling, and when germinated, will surprise their owners by putting out two taproots instead of one.
If carefully handled, it should be possible to remove the seed casing after a day or two and gently separate the two seedlings. Once separated, the two seedlings should happily grow into two healthy plants—and interestingly, while one of the two plants will be the normal offspring of its mother and father, the other will be a clone of its mother.
Although two seedlings are more common, some three-seedling polyembryonic seeds have also been observed. However, while this is an interesting mutation, it does not confer much advantage to the breeder, and apparently no effort has been made to develop a true-breeding polyembryonic strain.
10) Albinism & variegation
Arguably one of the most beautiful spontaneous mutations to occur in any plant, variegation occurs when some of the genes that control production of chlorophyll and other pigments do not express correctly, causing distinctive patterns of pigmented and non-pigmented sections on leaves and buds.
In some extreme cases, the genes that control production of chlorophyll may all be switched-off, and the plant will be entirely albino. However, plants that require photosynthesis to live cannot survive and reach full maturity if they are albino, as chlorophyll is required for the photosynthesis reaction.
Variegation is pretty, but is generally considered useless or even detrimental, as it reduces the plant’s capacity to photosynthesize and thus comprises its ability to achieve maximum health and yield.
However, there is some indication that the white flower tips commonly expressed during high-intensity LED cultivation may arise due to genetic mechanisms. Testing on these white tips has reportedly demonstrated above-average cannabinoid and terpene levels compared to normal parts of the same plant – so white flower tissue may not be so detrimental after all! Of course, we need to conduct more studies and tests to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between high light levels, genetics and variegation.
We hope you have enjoyed this selection of unusual cannabis mutations—and if you encounter your own examples of these or other mutations, please let us know all about it in the comments section below!
This article was updated with the contributions of independent scientist Dr Gavin Macfie, to ensure accuracy and academic rigour.
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
I have a mutation I’ve not been able to identify. The seedling started out with 4 cotyledons, 1 set purple other set green. Then produced 4 non fan leaves, and produce a long white pistil. The first set of fan leaves it produced only had 3 and were more smooth. The color and texture are darker and more plastic feeling. It’s growing much slower than another seed planted at same time, but healthy. It’s a unknown strain.
It might be a good idea to update this article and clarify/correct a couple of things, IMHO.
1. The very first picture at the top of the article with a plant exhibiting a flattened stalk (perhaps the celery stalk pheno that some commenter have mentioned) is the result of a localized mutation leading to an abnormal growth pattern called fasciation. This can happen anywhere on the plant, but is generally most noticeable in the stem or flower. If fasciation affects the flower, the flower will grow in a crested pattern, and fasciated flowers are prone to mold and have lower levels of phytochemicals. There are lots of examples of fasciation in other species, especially asters, and cacti. Many people confuse or misdiagnose this condition with polyploidy.
2. Polyploidy does not occur naturally in cannabis that we know of. Natural polyploidy leading to viable offspring can occur in plants, but is generally a result of interspecific hybridization between two closely related species with different chromosome numbers. There have (as you mention) been a few polyploids artificilally produced in cannabis, but they don’t seem to be significantly higher in phytochemicals, seed production, or yield.
3. Freakshow- exhibits a cool leaf mutation that occurs in other species too (tomatoes for example)
4. “stringy” = foxtailing: could be a mutation, could be phenotypic plasticty due to environment. It seems to pop up in warmer areas.
Just an fyi, polyploidity is not a word- the word is poyploidy, or the action of inducing polyploidy is called polyploidization.
I popped 6 Blue Sherbet S1 seeds and one has turned out to be a mutant, has 2 leaves per node with different fingers per leaf, some have 1 leaf, 2 leafs, 3, 5, 7 and the top even has 9 fingers leaf. The top is the most interesting as from far it looks like 2 leafs but the 9 finger turns out to just be one solo leaf. I reckon the main top will be a dud and won’t produce buds but it may end up producing buds from the centre of the single leaf. Only time will tell, anyone heard or seen of anything similar?
Hey I am looking for info on a plant I have. I am new to growing but have been around a few in my daze. The leaves look like feathers is my best explanation. One you have to see. I don’t know the strain I was in my seed bank un named, it could even be Mexican brick from back in the day. Hard sayin not knowin! Anyone I can send a pic to?
Good afternoon Corey,
Thanks for your question,
Are you thinking of Freakshow or Dr. Grinspoon?
These are the top two strains I could think of in terms of leaves that could resemble feathers.
Looking forward to your response 🙂
Mark
Anyone ever have a plant in flower whose white hairs lay flat on the plant instead of sticking out.
Has anyone had a touch sensitive plant? When I would rub the finger of a fan leaf it would close together like mimosa pudica (shame plant). Every leaf on the plant reacted to touch.
Good afternoon Cody,
I hope you’re having a great day,
Oh wow, I haven’t had a plant like that. It sounds very unique, what strain where you growing?
Have any other of our readers experienced anything like this?
You might also be interested in our article on Understanding, Identifying and Using Cannabis Leaves
I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
Mark
I had a plant, about 20yers ago.. that would move it’s leave when touched, actually the whole plant, seemed to be almost aware of. Its surroundings, (the other plants and me.) It was only that one that. Had such behaviour. It’s hard to explain. So unusual a plant that in what I know of never have occured before
Thanks for giving your information it was helpful.
Hey David,
Thank you for your comment!
I’m glad you found the article informative 🙂
To learn a little more about medicinal cannabis, here are some links that you might find of interest.
How to maximise the yield of a cannabis plant and Top 10 tips to maximize your cannabis grow space.
Thanks again, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Mark
Great article, I like many appreciate variety of cannabis, most mutations you mentioned are interesting but not commercially very important. I’m also interested in the mutations that develop the traits like color and terpienes and odors, as well as different medical traits like cbd, cbdv, thcv, cbg, etc.
I would like to see a group or club that trade’s unique genetics to those who wish to explore their varieties and enhance the traits.
Got 2 purple fingers on gsc is it good or bad
Good afternoon Jonathan,
Thanks for your comment,
Unfortunately, legal restrictions mean we can’t answer grow-related questions or give grow advice on this blog.
Purple cannabis gets its colour from anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that is found in all parts of the plant: leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and even roots.
However, Anthocyanins are not produced throughout the lifetime of the plant, and it is only during the last few weeks of flowering that they begin to alter its appearance. The absence of chlorophyll in the final stages allows the pigments to show through even more distinctly and the plant can often express vivid purple, blue and red hues. They may also express in cold conditions.
This article on Purple Cannabis: What Makes Some Cannabis Strains Turn Purple? may be of interest to you.
Thanks again, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Mark
I’ve been growing since the early 60’s, as you might imagine I’ve encountered numerous examples of the aforementioned deviations: including a trifoliate that grew intense three sided branching without any pruning, a half golden and dark green leaved plant perfectly split 50/50 through the plant from base to top cola, several creeper pheno’s that would “lean into the sunlight lowering its branches into the soil and growing into “frods” that produced copious lbs. of buds, One of the oddest features I discovered over time is what I call “celery” stalk. The plant is an indica/sat hybrid that grows into a nice thick bushy round main stem from the growing center that starts to flatten and intensifies its core like a celery stalk. Quite striking including a ribbed appearance which grows vertically with the elongating stem…Multi clone like leaflets emanate from this protrusion.
Good afternoon Mauser,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, and giving so much detail.
The celery stalk phenotype sounds very interesting!
Thanks again, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Mark
Fantastic Blog: I would like to post a picture of my celery pheno, if that’s possible let me know the procedure Mark.
Good afternoon Mauser,
Thanks for the comment!
Your celery phenotype sounds very interesting, I would love to see it!
Please send an E-mail to: Mark@sensiseeds.com
Thanks again for your comment, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog!
Looking forward to seeing your mutation!
Mark
I to have been growing of a long time now , since the mid 1980’s .. I have seen a few of the mutations mentioned in this article..true twin plants from one seed , the creeper phono type a couple times over the year’s , and a tri-nobe male that was picture perfect three branches per nobe site from bottom to top of the plant.. I thought I found another example of this mutation again… It turns out to my surprise that it didn’t grow as the first tri-nobe male I happened to mention previously.. started out the first couple nobe sites were as expected.. how ever the plant started to grow strange traits – two fully formed leaflets from one leaf stem and other traits I’ve never witness before and I started researching cannabis mutations and trying to figure out what I had going on here with this strange plant I had in my garden.. and till now I thought I found my answer , I believe it to be a polypodism mutation take I was witnessing.. but since I’ve read your discription of your discovery I’m certain I’ve found another example of the celery mutation like you’ve found and discribed in your plants strange growth pattern.. with the flattening of the stem as the plant reached sexual maturity and the stem resembles a celery stock , ever the clone like leaflets coming from the inside curve of the stem..I’m certain that’s what I’ve found in my plants mutation..I have tried to breed my plant with the only male pollen source I had this summer and since I’ve only found one seed since I’ve started harvesting this plant and see no more seeds visible to tell if it was a good breeding yet that will have produced anymore seed then just the one I’ve found so far , and or if that seed is even viable and will grow or is this seed infertile…? I’ve stopped harvesting the plant to take pictures and video of the plant to document it and I will continue to research this mutation and respond further with what I’ve learned about this mutation as to the potency and the flavor I can’t comment yet for the plant hasn’t been completely harvested yet and what has isn’t dry enough to sample yet…as for the smell it’s very faint and kinda piney yet bland… I tried to take clones and couldn’t get them to take root.. for the growth from seedling to mature female plant.she was very vigorous and didn’t lose color or leaflets though out her growth cycle.. note the color was slightly lighter green than my other plants growing this year… I will report further on what I’ve discovered about this strange cannabis mutation I’ve been lucky to witness and grow this year, outside and if the seed I’ve found or any others I might find after the drying and curling of this plant and what the effects of the plants potency , smell and flavor profile she expresses when she’s dry… Thank you for your time and for the information you’re added to this article.. sincerely your’s Terry Hartleb from Illinois U.S.A. , 10-30-2021.
Good afternoon Terry,
Thank you so much for contacting us here at Sensi Seeds and sharing your experiences with cannabis mutations.
Please keep us posted on any developments, and I’m very excited to read more about this celery mutation.
If you have some photos, please send them to: Mark@sensiseeds.com.
Thanks for the support from Illinois,
Best wishes,
Mark
Yes I have seen this with the pineapple upside down cake strains.
Pineapple upside down cake 🤤
Sorry about the spelling and any confusion it’s might of caused.. thanks again..
I have been using cannabis for over 50 years. I have grown my own cannabis many years. That being said, I have some second generation seeds from an unknown origin. Extremely potent. Amazing buzz from one hit! Feels like a cross of Sativa and Indica. So sticky, you even have to help open the shells and peel the seedling growths apart. I had one plant last season, (I grow outdoors), that was female, but grew a few male sacs, that pollinated a small area, and produced a small amount of seeds on same plant. I have never seen anything like them before. In the small container they are in, they have stuck together, and have formed a resin-coated glaze around the seeds. I have taken them out and separated them, put them back into the container, and they glaze over again. Can’t wait until growing season to begin in a few months. Hoping they germinate and grow!
Hi Bud,
That’s fascinating, I’ve never heard of seeds doing that before. Do let us know how it goes when you germinate them!
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Amazing: I used to live in Santa Cruz California and was growing some really good hybrids that I created from genetics I recovered from So Cal (FallBrook) and Molokai Hawaii (Healing Leaper Colony).
Most people could not take more than 2 tokes without being stupefied for several hours before they regained their senses.
Quite amazing herb to say the least.
To My chagrin, a thief raided my drying bungalow while I was away on business.
Sounds like you have a very unique genetic on your hands Bud Farmer !!
I currently have a plant that has variegation. The strain is Cement Shoes. It seems to be worse when the plant is small. I have clones of the plant and the clones show more signs of the two toned leaves. The mom has more green vegitation than bicolored. It does look very cool but the plant is smaller than it should be and after cutting clones it takes much longer than the other 3 moms I have to regenerate growth.
Currently I have a plant that is growing with occasional curled up, spiral leaves. As if one side of the leaf is fused at it’s origin and the other side opens up just like normal. It almost looks like a circular saw blade. I’ve seen this in a few plants in different facilities before but can’t get a definitive answer as to what it is.
This primarily occurs when the plant is borderline flowering.
Indoors, can happen if photoperiod too short (14 hours, for a 16 hr varietal).
Outdoors, it accompanies the reveg of flowering plants.
I sprouted a seed and it has two heads on one stem what do you call that
Dichotomous… If it is 3 its trichotomous and 4 is quadcotomous so and and so fourth…. I have an auto finishing up that went creeper after exhibiting fox tails in her stretch or transitioning. Its a bush of many single serated leafs like something tropical or south asian. This thing has no main bud.. Never topped it and it went apes*It theres like 24 branches going out all over cant even find a main if I tried its crazy. has then produced random clusters of big calyxes much like Dr. Grinspoon and the fox tails fattened up nicely as everything swelled. The seeds ive been picking have made her ooze sap out from at least a dozen sites so after i pick out the hundreds of seeds i will be thinking of you all and hopefully stabilizing something unique. I had some Ghost OG pollen.. Purple diesel, and various autos like sour daddy… Critical blue and hopefully some hermied pollen from a surprise grape zkittles auto had going from seed at the same time… We will see!
@ FOTD please contact me
I would like to talk to you about your interesting plant genetics.
(P.S. this is my third time trying to post this so hopefully the moderators let this one post)
Hi FOTD and Niceguyrick,
Exchanging contact information in the comments is not permitted under our terms and conditions, I’m afraid. Do you maybe have a common interest on a social media app? Maybe the Sensi Seeds Instagram account is of interest to you both?
In the meantime, thanks for your comments and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Sorry about asking for info.on the seeds Scarlet…ya might wanna take the post down so people don’t get their hopes up on his seed offer…and again I apologise, I didn’t see your post till after I wrote mine… And thanks for the kind offer if you’re reading FOTD…. Happy growing all.. very interesting site by the way.
Hi Ken,
No problem, I’m all in favour of discussion in the comments between people who are passionate about the topic! I just have to edit out anything to do with phone numbers, addresses, etc as this is in breach of our terms and conditions on the blog. We do have various social media channels though, and sometimes our fans chat to each other in the comments there too.
I hope you continue to enjoy the blog,
With best wishes,
Scarlet
I have shapeshifter genetics called freakshow mother seeds and also duckweb ibl that has beautiful expression, big round one pointed leaves and some very subtly 3 pointed duck foot leaves. I also haveva 3 finger mother from a thin mint blueberryx god bud. Im getting some
Very interesting changes as I work with Pucker as well.
If anybody in a legal
State has a medical card and would like some free seeds for collectible purposes, I’m down to make the world a safer happier place.
Man ohhh man I would to take you up on that offer! ✌🏼❤️😊
I left off the on that email so bots wouldn’t pick it up. Look forward to hearing from you.
Hi there,
I’m not a bot! I’m a real person who really reads every single one of the blog comments. And I unfortunately have to tell you that exchanging contact information is not permitted in the blog comments under our terms and conditions.
However, we do have social media accounts where we post regularly.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Hey I’ll like to try to grab some of those seeds off your hands
Hi. Please reach out to me 🙂 Asia
Hello… My name is Ken and I live in NM and I have both cards to buy and grow. I would love to experience the seeds your offering…. I love watching the plants during the veg stage as where others dwell on the flowering bud. And I’m growing a true strain of mexican cannabis that has seeds 3 x the size of bred seeds I will trade. I have one growing now that’s at 92 days into flowering and isn’t close yet! Huge buds that smell exactly like grapefruit…I too love growing and sharing the experience. Write me!
Hi FOTD I know this is late but I collect and grow all intresting varieties of strange cannibis. I have an African Black Magic that has saw blade leaves too. I would be intrested in any seeds you would be willing to share..
Hi I have 1 sativa plants 2 indago and one plant that has 10 leaves and very very small flowery buds? I have no idea what it is.. would you know.
Hi Brenda,
Unfortunately I’m not able to answer your question, but you could check through our seed selection to see if any of the photos of our strains look similar. Sorry I can’t help you further, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Iv got an F1 well 3 females that were bred with Sensi #11 F x LB#1 F5 M(my own polymorphic hybrid) all are phyllotaxy mutations. Males an females.. got over 200seeds of mother.
Thanks guys for the seeds the mother plant came from.
Your Sensi#11 is boomin.
Waiting to see if it carrys to the F2’s
Will keep updating as i go.
Hi Perrin,
That’s great to hear, thanks for your feedback! We look forward to your next update. I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Those mutations may look strange to some people, well not for me. They look all beautiful and mesmerizing.
This is an excellent article. Thank you for the time and effort!
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you liked the article, and I hope you continue to enjoy the blog.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Hello there, very interesting site. I currently have a dark angel strain in veg outdoors in central Canada. This one started out on one side of a lower branch as a whiled phyllotaxy for a couple sets, and then I noticed it now has a set with 4 and I believe it has a new set of 4 coming but hard to see. I have many close up pictures all very clearly showing this awsome mutation and am very willing to post them if anyone wants to see them. I would have to be told how to do that but my question is: what this mutation is called I can’t find it? And should I be taking cut to preserve? Hoping it’s the unicorn. Popped 3 from seeds and the mutated plant by far out performs the other 2 strains. Any help or knowledgeable advice on this would be greatly appreciated thanx.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your comment and your kind words about the blog! I’m afraid that we don’t have the capacity to upload images in the blog comments, but perhaps one of our readers can shed more light on the matter from your written description. If you have the capacity to take cuttings, I recommend you do so because you might regret not doing if this does turn out to be the unicorn!
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Currently growing blue bullet, the first and second set of serrated leaves are fine but the third set has came through as doubles. So rather than being just two serrated leaves I have 4 as the the third set. Looks like the fourth set are coming through the same way…I know this isn’t normal so must be a mutation but wondering what kind. Any advise would be greatly appreciated
my seed germinated but cotyledon is round not oval and its been 2 days no serrated leaves
Hi there
I created my own feminized Hawaiin Snow seeds ( using colloidal Silver ) and planted some in late Mrach and today on 21th of may I just noticed an unusual flowing on one of my plant !!
I wonder why ?!
If is because of a shock, why my other HS plants of the same strain and growth condition did not receive that shock and turn into flowering stage ?
any comment or adwise would be greatly appriciated.
I have two “crinkled leaf” plants. Too young to sex. I crack a huge ear to ear smile every time I look at them! Would post a pic if I could.
i have (4) GSC thin mints plants, about 58 days old and 1 of them have the quadploid (??) thing going on, but only on one branch (not main).
there are 4 sets of leaves coming from the branch and the branch is oval shaped rather than round. more than oval, it’s like rectangular (with rounded corners). hard to explain, but shaped more like a butter knife than a drinking straw if you get my drift. all the nodes are stacking way too tight and the leaves are just piling upon each other.
this same plant, since birth was different from the other 3. it had way wider, darker and rounded leaves, many of which had that webbed thing going on. there were what should be 5 leaves but were mended together into what looked like deformed maple leaves.
this same plant is far smaller than the other 3 and shows purple accents.
the last thing is this same plant’s leaves all overlap on top of each other and never spread out. the webbed thing went away, but the leaves are still stacking over themselves.
all 4 of the plants have had the exact same treatment.
the other one also has a branch w
Would you want to trade? Look for my comment on here. Let me know. I love mutants. I am registered caregiver but I am
Mostly a hobby grower of just a handful of plants. Thanks I have a three finger thin mint mother. Very rare
I have a couple plants in an area in the ground where they’ve only grown for 6 months at their about a foot tall and the leaves are very small 1/2 inch long and they’re growing out of the stock sideways like a solid bouquet they look like they might have some hairs and buds but it’s nothing I’ve ever seen before and I haven’t found a picture of it I’m curious what had happened nothing else has happened like this before or even in the area I wonder if there was something in the ground
I have a plant that I started from seed , “Ayahuasca purple” that I bought from Singleseedcenter and it has three branches , leaves per node . Hoping for a nice lady. It is supposedly a feminized seed , but I don’t trust that site , because I bought 5 feminized seeds and 5 autos , and they threw in 4 free GSC feminized seeds and only one of the feminized seeds popped out of all of those 5 and 2 out if the 5 autos popped , and none of the 4 freebees popped. Almost all the seeds where pale looking and small , and appeared mature . I sent them several emails , and they wouldn’t even send me one good , mature seed in good faith , to keep my business , so I won’t ever buy seeds from them , ever again . Anyway the Ayahuasca purple with the 3 stems and leaves is looking healthy , and the one auto “Himalayan Blue” is almost finished and smells devine , and last but not least , the last one “Blackberry Kush” auto has been in the ground since 4/15/19 and here we are at 6/7/19 is still vegging , no sign of flowers yet , which makes me believe that it is not a autoflower , which if I would have known I wouldn’t have planted it in a 3 gallon pot , I’m hesitant to transplant it into a 10 gallon pot in fear that it might start flowering and then I might stunt it’s growth. I will be buying my seeds from another website from now on that actually sends healthy , mature seeds , that are , indeed what they say they are . Lesson learned. Looks like a spent over $100 dollars on 1 auto , possibly 2 if the Blackberry flowers , and one feminized seed . That’s $33 dollars a seed . Any ideas about the 3 leaf Ayahuasca purple?
That purple is very good and fast to flower.. You may have yourself a super auto with your blackberry.
Question, What strain only has 3 leaves ? My plants are young 4 to 5 weeks!
Thanks
Dave Hart
Out standing . Thank u for all your dedicated work. I would like to keep in touch please . I have some mutations happening as we speak. Onelove dr.bud
Decent article, despite a fair few of those examples being natural variations instead of mutations. Am currently working to stabilize a two-tone variegated ducksfoot type (it has aurea-type variegation and albinistic variegation beside the normal green). One of the mutations in that gene pool is the occurrence of plants that do not form growth points at all, thus making it a single stalk without any branches.
We have grown a mystery cannabis plant that does not grow any buds or male buds. Only leaves are obtained. Is this a mystery plant or quite common.
Maybe your plant is not getting enough light or its locked out from possible over feeding. 2 of the top 10 things that plants need water and light! Not under the assumption that you dont feed everytime you water… I havent fed my plants in like 2 months and am now seeing what they want. As i keep forgetting to feed theres less and less available to the soiless mix of ewc coco perlite and some organic dry fertz… Theres gotta be a reason why your plant isnt flowering.. Iver seen hemp get 10ft tall before dropping balls 😜
Yeah I grow and breed with ABC. Trying to retain the leaf pattern characteristic is difficult as is cross breeding it. The vine like growth from an abc hybrid is actually very common. Once crossed with a “normal” southern hemisphere Land race ABC takes on duck foot characteristics. At this point a more potent strain may be bred with ABC before back crossing ABC genetics to reinforce growth characteristics.
I have a poliploidal plant (I think) this is my first ever grow and there is a plant that had a flat wide stem like it was 2 stems bonded as 1, I switched to flower (4 weeks in so far) and the cola of that stem is like 2 buds bonded as 1 and it is very hard and dense, and bigger than the others,
I will take photos later when I get chance if you would like to see?
I’m going to try and get seeds from this to keep it but as I’m a newb I’m going to have to do a lot of research but I like a challenge :).
I have a plant that has two leaves coming out over the existing leaves as a set of eyebrows; thus two layers of leaves, the two smaller ones over the natural existing ones, but much smaller; also, as usual a leaf will be in the opposite of a leaf, but this is two single digits leaves coming out as individuals opposing the natural leaf. Some of the eyebrow type leaves only have one brow that comes out over the natural leaves; also, on some of the small leaves coming from the branches seem to be similar to the Australian plant with leaves that twist and curl.
My leaves on one branch have a 10th leave coming out of the center of the leaves pointing different directions
Hey guys,just browsing your article. Iv noticed there’s no pic of the mutation polyploidation. I currently have plant half way through flowering That is polyploid . Would you guys like to use the photos?
Hi there,
Thanks for your comment and for reaching out to us! I would definitely like to see your photos, please could you email them to me at scarlet@sensiseeds.com and I can then let you know if we can use them on the blog?
With best wishes,
Scarlet
Does anyone know that strain is in the last picture? I have a plant that has only five fingers in its fan leaf. Ar first i thought it was ruderalis but the leafs are to fat.
Have you ever seen two leaves in one? I have two leaf stems that came out of the same spot that are joined. At the end two leaves formed stuck together. It has a bushy look to it as it has 14 points.
Yup I got nearly half a plant like that but clones are norm.
You forgot Freak show the newest rarest cannabis mutation of all
I have a plant showing ABC genes with the three leafs domanating but also some indica and the leaf-bud genes. I have calyx’s forming all along the fan leaf stems. Not sure what to make of it. Also, she seems to be hermaphroditing. She produced some bananas but i plucked them and havent seen anymore
Very interesting thank you
Seen a super dwarf variety, it had leaves the size of a us fifty cent piece. Not an auto, very fruity probably less than 60-80 cm high when finished. Y2K have not seen since. Very clonable, very tiny. Almost definitely pure indica.
I have a plant that seems to be exhibiting a strange growth pattern. The new branches are coming out at a nearly 90 degree angle and the fan leaf is at a 45 degree facing down. They are essentially growing out horizontally (the new grow is of course bending up towards the light. The seed came from a plant that grown in SCROG fashion and was trained so the colas ran and other branches ran horizontally under a mesh trellis.
Typically it seems the new branches come in facing upwards and require LST techniques such as staking branches down, etc. in order to get the branch growing horizontally.
Is it possible the seeds picked up this trait from the parent plant — a result of the LST techniques employed?
Hi Ross,
That’s an interesting question! I’ll forward it to the author of this article, and please also post it on the Sensi Seeds Forum (if you haven’t already); there are sure to be some ideas from the community on this.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
I have a leaf, on top of it leave. What causes it.
Hi Jerome,
I’m afraid this is a question that I can’t answer based on your description, sorry! I suggest you join the Sensi Seeds Forum, where you can upload photos of your plant (we strongly recommend turning off the geotag and any other location information on your camera) and consult our thriving community of cannabis fans for advice and suggestions.
With best wishes,
Scarlet
I’ve had the whirled phyllotaxy mutation a few times, where there’s 3 of each leaf on each node. I thought that was always pretty cool
I have the same thing right now As we speak that started with 3 and did another three and now the next set has morphed to 4 And I can see at least another 3 or 4 coming but are still too small for me to see if it’s going to add more then 4.All on the bottom branch only one side tho!! I hope it keeps morphing out on me but am wondering if these mutations are more prone to happening again on other branches or sets because it already has tendencies?
Very cool article. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Grew a plant from seed, outside & only one leaf split, two inches from the stalk, and morphed into two separate leaves for another three inches. Instead of 7 leaves it was 7.5 or 8. I took a picture of it with my cell phone but I don’t know how to post it.
Hi , I like to collect mutant strains .. I have a few types of ducks foot a split head auto and trying to get hold of a dr grinspoon too. I’m always on the lookout for any others.. Thanks Mark.
Gday couple years ago I had an amazing pheno, only after beginning and during flower this thing had three sometimes four vertical branches emanating from the one spot vertically from the one site between leaf and branch making buds super thick big and tight. Heaps of f2 relatives but nothing from this particular individual, will it show up again?
Humulus lupulus is neither a vine nor has tendrils. It’s a bine. Trust me on this one. Hops grow on a bine. Grapes grow on a vine. Grapes have tendrils. K bye.
You’re absolutely right Josef, I’m not sure how I made that mistake. Will amend asap!
I have a very rare strain that we call starflower,half the plants instead of budding normally have skinny weed like branches that have nothing but seed calaxes alternating on both sides interspaced with a few three bladed leaves, my brother has this strain and I managed to get some beans from him and starting some up, I have pictures of this strain but the ribbon cable in the phone broke and I can’t forward them, I have never seen a strain like this and never will again exept if the seeds I got turn out, pictures will be taken when they do!!!
Great article.
I have an indica plant that has a mini leaf growing at the palm of the leaf .There are four or five leaves with the piggyback leaf on the plant.
It’s like the leaf bud if you traded the bud for a mini leaf
Your article is very good.
About my piggyback plant is this unique or something common?
I’ve never seen this before.
It’s interesting, I’ve never heard of it before now, but it definitely seems to be within the realms of possibility. If you have pictures, please share! Thanks 🙂
I have the piggy back leaf in a lemon deisel headband right now
Cloned a few off this. Beautiful buds!
This topic is awsome but the seeds that I’ve had and these plants are growing beautiful but the only thing is some of the leaves on the stems are drying up ..can someone tell me why
I have a mutation it is growing slowly , about 3 inches in 2 weeks it started with about six leaves at the bottom all shaped the same as the ABC plant however the leaves have now become serated and are also all single leaves with a ton of crystals all over the stems and leaves . anyone heard of or seen this mute before as I would be interested to know more about it.
That’s that high in everything drop mutation. It’s best preferred to use red light and do not top the plant in till u shock it into buding then smoke that shit with me! 🙂
do you know something about a fin bud mainly sativa pheno?
when i say fin its realy fin.
Which strain or oil is the best for MS….getting tired of the pain!!
fucking brilliant article
i love you guys :)))))
ofc don’t be sending me any mutant seeds right 🙂
Interesting but your picture for polyploidy is actually a plant exhibiting fasciation – another fascinating mutation found in the genus Cannabis and only a few others.
Very good read, especially for a pot nerd like myself!
I need some advice, I cant find any info on sunflower/cannabis hybrids. Currently I am 85 % sure that my sunflower seed and the cannabis seed i planted fused together. It started out looking like a Sunflower seedling But after its First set of sunflower true leafs it started developing 5 fingered leaves. I know there was 1 sunflower seed and a few old cannabis seeds i had from a failed attempt left in the pot. Let me know what you guys think . Stay green 🙂
Wtf
U probably did lol that’s dope af! I wish I could see a picture of that it sounds sooo beautiful. I barely started growing for the first time and both my plants only have 3 finger leaves lol at least u have 5 and a sunflower
Hi Sashata,
that pic isn’t of a polyploid plant but a fasciation mutation which is characterised by the terminal growth showing a strip of pistils rather than a point and occurs in many species of plants which means this mutation first showed way back in plant evolutionary time.
Hope this helps
Rockster @ Kaliman Seeds
Actually, it’s a crestate mutation, and not polyploidism.
Poly happens, and can be diagnosed by (I think) an even number of nodal splits. 2/4/8/etc the chromosomes are redundant hence polyploidism. I might be wrong, but I paid attention in Plant physiology Botany class.
Please stop telling idiots to use the INCREDIBLY POISONOUS chemical colchicine, the stuff’s so poisonous the next generation of plants is TOXIC as fuck to the casual breeder. They need to be isolated and separately cared for, as the NEXT PLANT IS TOXIC TO SMOKE. They look pretty too, though.
X-rays are a less harmful way of getting mutations, same crap-shoot.
Do not reply, I am not at this address. Peace and love.
Interesting article.
I found also one different plant last summer. It have single finger leaf, mean not 3-5-7,just 1 Plant were female, so i don’t know if the seeds will grow the same because the male were nun muted i think.
I have a Hindu Kush 100% indica plant growing that has one single finger leaf growing. The whole plant is like this. Why is it deformed like this.
This could likely be a rootbound plant that is out of micronutrients, especially zinc… I would amend your preferred soil with a good compost, like Malibu Compost, and transplant into a bigger pot & start to use a micronute additive. Zinc, boron, maganese, ect…
Hi .. I like to collect mutant strains. Thanks Mark.
Have you ever seen the leaf stem form new growth (like new plants appearing) up the stem towards the leaf its self? It looks like if you took the leaf off and stuck it on wet soil it would root its self with 5 or more new plants off one leaf stem.
I had one plant, started from seed produce the duckfoot whorled mutations. It was male and over produced pollen. I cloned it destressimg the plant and got really nice clones. I crossbreed males CBD hybrid with another female sativa, got seeds.
The seeds grow a longer taproot than my other plants. The leaves come in later as well. I am just starting this grow, so I do not know what I have yet. Only time will tell
I have the same growing in humboldt right now. It’s a Lamborghin OG. Wish I could post a pic!
Hi mark hope U still get this..I’ve got a mutant plant I think..it’s growing new branches coming out of the calyx’s?!?!?? Plant is about 3monts old..Was wondering if you have seen or heard of this b4?
I just sprouted a weed seed and it has two heads and onley one stem and 4 water leavs what do you call that just thought u would know about it
I had one plant, started from seed produce the duckfoot whorled mutations. It was male and over produced pollen. I cloned it destressimg the plant and got really nice clones. I crossbreed males CBD hybrid with another female sativa, got seeds.
The seeds grow a longer taproot than my other plants. The leaves come in later as well. I am just starting this grow, so I do not know what I have yet. Only time will tell
Are they all natural mutations , Adapting to environment.? Genetically altered by man?
I have a rare strain we call starflower,half the plants instead of budding normally have skinny weed like branches that have nothing but seed calaxes alternating on both sides interspaced with random three bladed leaves, never seen anything like it before but after seven gene they are still showing up in this strain!!!
I need some advice, I cant find any info on sunflower/cannabis hybrids. Currently I am 85 % sure that my sunflower seed and the cannabis seed i planted fused together. It started out looking like a Sunflower seedling But after its First set of sunflower true leafs it started developing 5 fingered leaves. I know there was 1 sunflower seed and a few old cannabis seeds i had from a failed attempt left in the pot. Let me know what you guys think . Stay green 🙂
It sounds a bit like the dr -grinspoon strain, Which I’m hoping to get a hold of at the mo. I collect mutant strains so would be interested in having a few seeds
@Christooher Wilhite
Your understanding of mutations is not accurate. Mutations are random changes in the DNA code. Mutations happen all the time, in your very body as you are reading this sentance. Mutations are not “adaptations” to the environment. They are random changes, and could be either good or bad. A human intentionally changing the DNA of an organism is clearly not a mutation, as it is not random. It doesn’t even make sense to talk about natural vs artificial mutations, since all mutations are simply random.
No… the creeper example is just marijuan’s way of ensuring more plants…
I took a white widow from greenhouse seeds that I did not want ant threw it in my compost heap…. it grew..
. I bent it and broke it and stuffed the branches under the dirt……. to my suprise they all rooted where I pushed it underground and grew like a chain plant….. I got 8 ounces off a plant I actively tried to kill it’s whole vegitive state by breaking and bending… yet it came out having a huge root system and tons of popcorn sized buds…. all started from a piece of coco matt that had a root ball from a harvested indoor plant…. turned out to have a strong outdoor white widow that I never intended but had to let go due to its tenasity…
Goes to show your better off maintaing good perameters vs trying to give max light and max nuts for healthy strong plants.