Male plants have no commercial value, but are used to pollinate females. Only the female produces the flowers that are used for brewing or medicinal purposes. Hops are dioecious, which means they have separate male and female plants. Thus propagated, all plants of a given variety are genetically identical. Rhizomes resemble roots but possess numerous buds and are used for vegetative propagation. In addition to the true roots and aerial vine, the crown also produces underground stems called rhizomes. Vines may grow up to 25 feet in a single season but will die back to the crown each fall. The hop (Humulus Lupulus) is a hardy, perennial plant which produces annual vines from a permanent root stock (crown).
