Taxonomy
The distinctive aroma and flavour of our beer comes from hops. Originating from Central Europe, hops is a vine, growing clockwise on flowers, shrubs and small trees. These are originally found along rivers and riparian forests in Central Europe. Hops is a dioecious vine, meaning female and male flower organs are found on separate plants.
Male flowers
Female flowers
While the male plant develops loose panicles carrying greenish pollen, the female plant produces side shoots with several cone-like flowers. The partial inflorescences consist of 2-6, but usually 4 single flowers and emerge from each axis of the opposite standing hand-like leaf. The upper leaf consists of two intergrown stipules of a leaf with a suppressed upper leaf. The inflorescences has no perianth, but an ovary with a two branched stigma and is surrounded by a barge-shaped petal. The single flower consists of a short axis densely covered with numerous oblong, oval, scaly bracts.
After wind pollination, the ovary develops into a small solitary nut. However, in hop growing areas, only female plants are cultivated. Pollination is avoided by banning male plants in the cultivation area. This ascertains the maintenance of the desired ingredients. Because no fruit is obtained, plants are only propagated by vegetative means.
(Source: freely based on Franke, W. 1989: Nutzpflanzenkunde, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart)
Male flowers
Female flowers
While the male plant develops loose panicles carrying greenish pollen, the female plant produces side shoots with several cone-like flowers. The partial inflorescences consist of 2-6, but usually 4 single flowers and emerge from each axis of the opposite standing hand-like leaf. The upper leaf consists of two intergrown stipules of a leaf with a suppressed upper leaf. The inflorescences has no perianth, but an ovary with a two branched stigma and is surrounded by a barge-shaped petal. The single flower consists of a short axis densely covered with numerous oblong, oval, scaly bracts.
After wind pollination, the ovary develops into a small solitary nut. However, in hop growing areas, only female plants are cultivated. Pollination is avoided by banning male plants in the cultivation area. This ascertains the maintenance of the desired ingredients. Because no fruit is obtained, plants are only propagated by vegetative means.
(Source: freely based on Franke, W. 1989: Nutzpflanzenkunde, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart)
