Humulus lupulus

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Common hop
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Cannabaceae
Genus: Humulus
Species: H. lupulus
Binomial name
Humulus lupulus
L.

Humulus lupulus (Common hop) is a species of Humulus in the Cannabaceae family.

Common hop is a dioecious, perennial herbaceous climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and dies back to the cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. It is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere.

The flower cones of the plant, known as hops, are used in the production of beer to impart bitterness and flavor, and for their preservative qualities.[1] The extract is antimicrobial, which makes it useful for making natural deodorant.[2] Hops also contain the potent phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin that may have a relative binding affinity to estrogen receptors.[3] Hop also contains myrcene, humulene, xanthohumol, myrcenol, linalool, tannins, resin.

Contents

[edit] Varieties

There are five varieties of this species (Humulus lupulus):

  • H. lupulus var. lupulus. – Europe, western Asia.
  • H. lupulus var. cordifolius. – Eastern Asia.
  • H. lupulus var. lupuloides (syn. H. americanus). – Eastern North America.
  • H. lupulus var. neomexicanus. – Western North America.
  • H. lupulus var. pubescens. – Midwest North America.

There are many cultivated varieties: see List of hop varieties

[edit] Pests and diseases

[edit] Animal pests

[edit] Diseases

[edit] Common hop in culture

Common hop was voted the County flower of Kent in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Antimicrobial screening of essential oils and extracts of some Humulus lupulus L. cultivars.". Pharm Weekbl Sci. 1992 Dec 11;14(6):353-6.. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1475174?dopt=Abstract. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
  2. ^ "Hops [CO2] Extract". Toms of Maine. http://www.tomsofmaine.com/products/ingredient-detail.aspx?id=110&name=Hops%20%5BCO2%5D%20extract. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 
  3. ^ "Identification of a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and beer". J Clin Endocrinol Metab.. 1999 June. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10372741. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 
  4. ^ Plantlife website County Flowers page
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