336 



CANNABACE^ 



Upon opposite sides of the latter are alternate pairs of 'stipular 

 bracts' (si) which appear to form four rows along its entire 

 length. Each pair of these ' stipular bracts ' is in reality a pair 

 of stipules belonging to a leaf which has not developed a blade. 

 In some hops, however, notably the coarser varieties, an excess of 

 nitrogenous manure leads to the monstrous development of the 

 missing leaf-blades and the scaly bracts of the hop strobile appear 

 interspersed with small green leaves, a pathological condition 

 which is to be avoided. 



Fig. 104. — A, Hop strobile or female inflorescence, si ' Stipular bract ' ; 5 bracteole. 



Bf Axis of the strobile (the * strig '). a The main axis J d the cymose branches of 

 the axis on which the female flowers are borne ; J^ point of insertion of * stipular bract' ; 

 d point where bracteoles are attached (see /)). 



C, Piece of axis of the strobile showing the disposition of the ^stipular bracts' ji, and 

 the bracteoles i, 



D, Same as C, with the stipular bracts and one bracteole removed. 



In the axil of the true bract, and therefore appearing to arise 

 at a point on the main axis opposite the gap between a pair of 

 its stipules, is a very short cymose axis {li) upon which four 

 female flowers arise. Each flower is subtended by a bracteole {b) 

 whose base partially envelops the former. 



The bract-like stipules and bracteoles are popularly termed 

 ' petals ' by hop growers. 



