Perennial, climbing, scabrid herbs with reflexed hairs. Leaves opposite, petiolate, broad, serrate, 5-7 nerved from the base, cordate, undivided or pal¬mately 3-7 lobed, stipules lateral, deciduous. Plants dioecious, inflorescence cymose, the male much branched, paniculate; female spicate cone like in 2-3 axillary fascicles. Bracts broad, coloured, persistent. Male flowers: Perianth 5 partite, pistilodes absent. Female flowers : Perigonium membranous, styles subulate, caducous. Fruit an etaerio of achene; embryo spiral, cotyledons narrow.

2 species in temperate northern hemisphere, represented in West Pakistan by one cultivated species.

Lower Taxon

• Humulus lupulus Linn.