Common Hops (Humulus lupulus). These are the hops used to flavor and preserve beer. The flowers are dioecious, meaning that the plant grows separate male and female flowers. These characteristic cones are the result of the female flowers.Common Hops (Humulus lupulus). These are the hops used to flavor and preserve beer. The flowers are dioecious, meaning that the plant grows separate male and female flowers. These characteristic cones are the result of the female flowers.
Japanese
Hops (Humulus japonicus). In many ways an attractive vine,
but a very invasive one, and all the harder to get rid of because it is
covered with sticky prickles. It can cover a huge area quickly, and seems
to be found more and more commonly in the Pittsburgh area. Easily mistaken
at first glance for a wild cucumber, but distinguishable by the greenish
(rather than pure white) male flowers and the deeply five-to-seven-lobed
(rather than more shallowly five-lobed) leaves.