Cannabaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous), terrestrial, perennial twisting vines with rhizomes or erect annuals with taproots. Both rhizomes and taproots with glands, hairs and watery, harshly aromatic juice; odour of Humulus beer-like, that of Cannabis skunk-like. Leaves stalked, compound or at least the lower leaves with prominent lobes; lobes or leaflets palmate, radiating outward from a common point; leaf edges with sharp teeth. Leaves usually opposite, at least below; Cannabis with alternate leaves above.

Flowers small and inconspicuous, radially symmetrical. Pollen-producing and seed-producing flowers usually on separate plants in leaf axils or at the top of stems or branches. Flowers supported by bracts. Petals none. Sepals 5, remaining mostly separate in pollen-producing flowers; thin, papery, and often nearly completely fusing in seed-producing flowers; surrounding the ovary and achene in Humulus, and tending to be very short in Cannabis. Pollen-producing flowers 20-200+, in loose branched cymes or panicles; each flower with 5 erect, short-stalked stamens occurring opposite the 5 sepals. Fewer seed-producing flowers, 10-50, densely clustered, often in pairs, in short spikes or racemes; carpels usually 2, fused to form a single ovary bearing a short style with 2 long thread-like stigmas. Wind-pollinated; fruit achenes.

Hops, hemp fibre, oil, edible seeds, and THC are all obtained from this family.