Cannabis. 



URTICACE.E. 



225 



Suborder III. CANNABINEiE. Endl. The Hemp Tribe. 



Flowers dioecious. Sterile. Calyx 5-sepalled, membranaceous. Stamens 5. 

 Fertile. Calyx monosepalous, dry and membranaceous, embracing or en- 

 closing the ovary. Styles 2. Embryo curved, without albumen. — Herbs with 

 watery juice : the sterile flowers racemose or paniculate ; the fertile glomerate, 

 or imbricated with sepals, forming an ament-like spike. 



6. CANNABIS. Linn. ; Endl. gen. 1890. HEMP. 



[An ancient name of obscure etymology.] 



Sterile fl. Calyx equally 5-sepalled. Fertile el. Calyx oblong, acuminate, convolute ; 

 the base ventricose and including the ovary. Caryopsis 2-valved. — An erect, annual herb, 

 with digitate leaves : the sterile flowers in loose axillary pedunculate clusters ; the fertile 

 axillary and sessile. 



1. Cannabis sativa, Linn. Common Hemp. 



Linn. sp. 2. p. 1027 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 199 ; Beck, hot. p. 315 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 564. 



Stem 5-10 feet high, roughly pubescent. Leaves petiolate, digitately parted into 5-7 

 lanceolate serrate divisions. Sterile flowers in numerous axillary clusters, which together 

 form a large panicle. Fertile flowers mostly by pairs. Calyx greenish. Styles long, subulate. 

 Caryopsis ovoid, smooth, surrounded by the persistent calyx. 



Waste places and along fences : scarcely naturalized. Fl. June. Fr. August. This 

 well known plant is cultivated throughout the world, for the sake of its tough fibre. A variety 

 occurs in India, which affords a valuable narcotic. 



7. HUMULUS. Linn.; Endl. gen. 1891. H0P . 



[From humus, moist earth ; because it prefers damp soils.] 

 Sterile fl. racemose or paniculate. Calyx 5-sepalled. Stamens 5. Fertile fl. in aments. 

 Bracts foliaceous, imbricated, in several rows, 2-flowered. Calyx 1-sepalled, embracing 

 the ovary, and enlarging in fruit. Styles long and spreading. Achenia invested with the 

 enlarged calyx, and forming a membranaceous strobile. — A rough twining perennial herb, 

 with mostly opposite cordate 3 - 5-lobed leaves and ovate stipules. 



1. Humulus Lupulus, Linn. Hop. 



Linn. sp. 2. p. 1028 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 230 ; Pursh fl. I. p. 199 ; Nutt. gen. 2. p. 237 ; 

 Ell. sk. 2. p. 695; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 367, and med. hot. t. 60; Torr. compend. p. 373 ; 

 Beck, hot. p. 315 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 563. 

 [Flora — Vol. 2.] 29 



