356 THE HEMP FAMILY. 



green and unpretending, though the males are rendered beautiful by 

 their large anthers. The whole plant has a peculiar and penetrating 

 odoui', which may be perceived even without bruising it. 



The hop, or Humulus Lupulus, a native of all the northern parts of 

 the old world, is one of the most beautiful plants our country pro- 

 duces. The stems are slender and twining, often ascending to a 

 distance of many yards in friendly hedges, and with their surface 

 made rough by minute prickles. The leaves are opposite, some of 

 them elegantly heart-shaped and undivided, the remainder three or 

 five lobed, and as many inches across, very rough, puckered, and 

 supported on long petioles. The male flowers, like those of the hemp, 

 are pentamerous, five-stamened, green, and borne in large, light, 

 branching panicles ; the females are clustered into little egg-shaped 

 or oval spikes, in form resembling fir-cones, and composed of numerous 

 broad, concave, and closely-packed scales, each with two minute and 

 sessile blossoms in its axil. The scales composing these coniform 

 spikes are sprinkled over their inner surface, near the base, with 

 resinous glands of a bright yellow tint. When overblown, the glands 

 become loose and roll away. The microscope shews similar glands 

 upon the under side of the leaves. 



The hop is not only indigenous, but a plant of the Manchester 

 Flora. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 



Common Hop — [Humulus Lupulus.) 



Hedges at Chorlton, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Ashley, Rostheme, Lymm, 

 &cc., abundant, and well nigh smothering the brambles and roses. 

 Pendleton, near the coal pits ; Barton fields. (J. S.) Fl. end of sum- 

 mer. Root perennial ; stems annual. 



E. 13. vi. 427 ; Baxter, v. 342. 



Some believe the hop to be an introduced plant, but there is Httle doubt of its 

 being a veritable ancient Briton, rendered more general by cultivation. Nothing 

 can be more beautiful than its vine-like wreaths, as we see them in September 

 festooning the tall and untrimnied hedges of the country, and hung with the 

 pale green tassels of the female tlowers, or the light featherj' panicles of the 

 males, that shed clouds of yellow pollen with the slightest toucli. No plant 

 makes a more charming pyramid for a garden, or drapery for a treUis, where 

 ita branches can float idly in the air. 



