THE HOP PLANT. 



19 



tion of the stem — put forth shoots about 4 to 6 inches in 

 length, forming the peduncles of the flowers, and terminating 

 in small brush-like cones. Not infrequently these peduncles 

 are branched, in which event each pedicel terminates in a 

 cone, the whole resembling a bunch of grapes in appearance. 

 The buds of the upper laterals produce flower-bearing pe- 



PiG. 7. — Female flower of the hop. 



Fig. 8.— Spindle, highly 

 magnified. 



duncles almost exclusively ; and grape-hke clusters of cones 

 develop at the apex of the stem, as well as on those of the 

 laterals. 



The inflorescence of the female plant is a strobile or cone 

 (an ear with more or less rigid scales), which consists of a 

 larger or smaller number of four-flowered spicules mounted 



