Female fruit-heads of the hop plant Humulus lupulus, family Cannabiaceae; these are dried and used as a tonic and in flavoring beer. In designated areas in Europe, no male hops may be grown, since seedless hops produced by the unpollinated female plant contain a greater proportion of the alpha acid that gives beer its bitter taste.
A vine, the flowers of which produce an essence used in the brewing of beer.
Humulus, Gatt. der Hanfgewächse, zweihäusige Schlingpflanze; die Fruchtzapfen der weibl. Pflanze liefern den für die Bierbereitung wichtigen Bitterstoff (Lupulin); wichtige Anbaugebiete: Bayern, Baden u. die Tschech. Rep.