## 2 Results and Discussion
### Micromorphological Analysis  
The pistellate flowers of _C. sativa_ are grouped into pairs in crowded, short pauciflore infloreses at the axillae or terminals of branches. The flower, subtended by a bract, consists of one unilocular ovary and of two elongated, hairy stigmas. A hood-shaped braceole surrounds the base of the ovary, a typical characteristic of the family Cannabaceae. The micromorphological survey on the investigated cultivars involved bracts, bracteoles, and infloresesence axes. Within the same variety, the _indumentum_ features proved consistent across the replicates, as regards trichome morphotypes, distribution pattern, and density on the examined plant parts. In all the investigated bemp varieties, the plant epidermis was densely covered by an _indumentum_ composed of diverse trichome morphotypes (Table 10; Figures 7-9). Hooked hair-like lithocysts were observed on the bract, braceole, and infloresesence axis surfaces. They were simple and unicellular with an acute apex; the cell diameter was progressively smaller moving from the base to the apex (Figure 7). The cuticle was smooth in Venom OG (Figure 7), and characterized by micropapillae, sometimes lacking on the basal cells, in all the other examined varieties. The overall length of this hair kind appeared variable, being lower on the interveinal regions of bracts and bracteoles and higher along the vein systems. Their distribution patterning and the compositions of the cycloliths have been used in the past in the forensic identification of marijuana [58]. In previous literature contributions, glandular trichomes of various morphotypes have been defined under diverse, controversial terms over time [6; 59; 60; 61; 6]. Therefore, an update of trichome terminology would be highly desirable to redefine the gland morphotypes. We decided, however, to adopt the current terminology and, consistently with the critical considerations that appeared in the paper by [PERSON] et al. [60], recognized two main trichome groups. The first was capitate, with a head made up of 8-16 cells arranged in a single disc and a multiseriate stalk composed of four to eight cell rows. The secretory head was surrounded by a broad storing chamber, giving to the apex of each trichome a spherical shape. Cuticular rupture is often observed in SEM micrographs, in the form of a detached cap or following a horizontal line of apparent fragility in the diametrical region of the head. The stalk was variable in length due to the diverse elongation degree of the epidermal multiseriate stalk (pseudo-stalks) supporting it. Therefore, the so-called capitate-stalked glands and capitate-sessile glands were grouped together. They invariably co-occurred on the infloresesence axis, on the bracts and especially on bracteoles in all the investigated varieties. The second group was bulbous, with a uni- or bicellular head, a short, biseriate stalk and a two-foot cell lying at the level of the epidermis [59]. We recorded their distributions on the surfaces of all the examined plant parts. As a whole, neither the density rate nor the distribution pattern of the different types of trichomes represented features with diagnostic value for varietal recognition (Table 10). However, the diverse elongation degrees and the variable diameters of the pseudo-stalks of the capitate-stalked trichomes appeared as microcharacters useful in the recognition of some examined cultivars. Indeed, in Lemon Conti Kush and Lemon Conti Kush New, the pseudo-stalk appeared typically shorter and wider at the base in comparison to the other examined varieties. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Plant Part** & \begin{tabular}{c} **Tichome** \\ **Morphotype** \\ \end{tabular}  & **24 K** & **Gotilla Clue** & \begin{tabular}{c} **Lemon Conti** \\ **Kush** \\ \end{tabular}  & \begin{tabular}{c} **Fresh** \\ **Mountain** \\ \end{tabular}  & \ \begin{tabular}{c} **Amnesia** \\ **Cookies** \\ \end{tabular}  & **Pablito** & **White Shark** & **Venon OG** &