512 CXXX. URTICACE^E. HUMULUS. 



closed within the persistent calyx. CD Lvs. opposite, digitate. Fls. 

 axillary ', c? in cymose pa?iicles, 9 in sessile spikes. 



C. SATIVA. Hemp. 



Lvs. palmately 5 7-foliate. The hemp was introduced originally from 

 India, but it springs up spontaneously in our hedges and waste grounds. It is 

 a tall, erect plant, with handsome petiolate leaves. Leaflets lanceolate, serrate, 

 3 5' long, ^ as wide, the middle one the largest. Flowers small, green, soli- 

 tary and axillary in the barren plants, spiked in the fertile ones. It is cultivated 

 in many countries for the sake of its fibre, which is stronger than that of flax, 

 and is the best of all materials for cordage and sail-cloth. The seeds are 

 nutritious, but the leaves are stimulant and narcotic, producing intoxica- 

 tion. June. 



9. HUMffLUS. 

 Lat. hwmis, moist earth ; the hop grows only in rich soils. 



Flowers d* 9. cT Calyx 5-sepaled ; stamens 5 ; anthers with 2 

 pores at the summit. 9 Bracts imbricate, large, entire, concave, 

 persistent, 1 -flowered; calyx membranous, entire, persistent; styles 

 2 ; achenium invested by the thin calyx. ^ twining with the sun. 

 Lvs. opposite. Fls. in axillary panicles and strobile-like aments. 



H. LUPULUS. Common Hop. 



The hop vine is found wild in hedges, &c., throughout this country, and 

 is, as every one knows, extensively cultivated for the sake of its fertile aments, 

 which are chiefly used as a preservative in beer. It has a long, annual stem 

 of rapid growth, always twining with the sun, rough backwards with reflexed 

 prickles. Leaves very rough, generally 3-lobed, deeply cordate at base, on 

 long stalks. Flowers of the barren plants extremely numerous, panicled, 

 greenish ; those of the fertile, in aments with large scales. In the cultivation 

 of the hop it tias been found profitable to plant a few layers of the barren vines 

 among the tertiie ones, as the produce is thus increased in weight through the 

 fertilization of the seeds. Aug. 



