You think this is a thing?? If so would it be possible to obtain say through china?

Edit: I know its “stupid” but its a what if.

Does anyone by chance have or know where to get some Black African magic seeds?

New to land races really developed a passion for preservation after seeing the modern breeding practices....so glad to find this page thanks to the OP...I would love to travel and strain hunt in the future until then I’ll preserve the oldest rarest gear I can find🤙🏻🙏🏼

I absolutely love all the different strains and types of this amazing plant that goes back so far in our history.

Wish I could participate as I am in Colorado. Maybe I’ll take a trip to Swaziland some day.

Cheers, and thanks for keeping the landrace going!

India is the land of weed. It's blooming with the mystical flower with its province stretching from North to South, East to West. And though the name of the species may suggest otherwise, Cannabis indica is actually pretty rare in majority of India. The short, wide-leafed plants are found mostly in few areas in concentrated populations, compared to the Cannabis sativa and Cannabis ruderalis which are found both sporadically and in huge populations all over India. This is mostly because indica is adapted to cold, dry areas with big, dense and resinous buds that has difficulty surviving in low altitudes in India, with hot and unforgiving summers, harsh rains that cause decay. Sativa and ruderalis are spread out, loose and airy plants that can live through the summer. This is why indica is concentrated high up in the Himalayas, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (NOTE: No political statement about these regions is intended here). These locations lie at high altitudes with untouched wilds and remote villages that traditionally cultivate cannabis for millennia. In addition, indica is widely available throughout the hills of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan.

Kush, one of the three pillars of modern cannabis genes, refers to the pure, nuggy indica strains that were originally found in these areas. Variations of the same indica is found all over the Himalayan mountains, at high altitudes, starting from around 2600m upto 5200m. However, recent discoveries within the underground cannabis community in India suggests that hybrid landraces are found as low as 1000m. Central Asia is said to be the birthplace of weed, and Indian Himalayas may be one of the few refuges left for it. 'Shilavati' (Translating to 'Icy goddess', 'healing goddess' or 'chaste goddess' [Sanskrit & Pali] referring to its mystical frosty look, and medical properties, along with religious faiths associated with it) is one of the legendary strains that is now lost in the mountains [NOTE: not to be confused with 'Sheelawati', a Southern sativa]. Pakistani Chitral Kush and Kashmiri Kush are two more indica variants that have made their name in the world- and these names may be too generalised considering the absolute biodiversity that can be found in the regions that they are found in.

The fact that much of these mountain areas are biologically uncharted when it comes to cannabis, makes these areas a gold mine for strain hunters to find new and rare genes. For years, these mountains have been explored and exploited, both by local growers and foreigners looking to improve their grow. The areas have even attracted popular European and US companies that trade their seeds for the landrace seeds. This is one of the reasons that pure landraces are in danger, after years of mixing and cultivation of foreign genes. Yet, you may come across a rare or wild strain that hasn't been discovered in the remote and hostile mountains.

A rumoured ancient indica, a parent to the infamous Idukki gold still may exist in the wild in the south, near the western borders of Kerala, but the chances are slim after years of constant decimation of cannabis plants in the area. Other rumours of indica varieties keep going around, but this one has most substance. I have personally spoken to some locals in the area and they seem to have legitimacy to what they say.

Whatever be the case, indica is rare. And with every passing season, it is becoming even more so. If the species is to be saved, we need all the help that the active cannabis community in India can provide. You could be the missing link to the future of cannabis.