This annual, introduced from Asia, grows to 10 feet and taller. The erect stems and stout branches carry distinctive leaves, which have 5-7 long, narrow and coarsely toothed leaflets (palmately divided), each up to 6 inches long (A,C). Male and female flowers are found on separate plants. The image “D” shows the greenish male flowers, and clustered on a spike in iage “A”. Image “E” shows the fruit of the female plant. Identified by its unique leaf shape and plant size.
Grows along roadsides, railroad tracks and other disturbed, sunny areas, flowering from June through September. In Fontenelle Forest, uncommon where the floodplain trails cross the railroad tracks. At Neale Woods, rare in sunny, disturbed areas.
Growing or collecting this plant is currently illegal in the U.S. The plants growing in our area are descendents from a field crop planted for hemp fiber, which was introduced during the second half of the 19th Century. The subspecies grown and harvested for its hallucinogenic effects has not been found growing wild in our area. Also known as Hemp.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.