Central American Hops?

[chiriqui]

I would like to identify this plant which I believe is hops. I asked a local farmer the name of this plant, which he could not recall but he said it's used for making beer!

I'm retired in the highlands (4700 ft) high on the side of volcano Braru, Chiriqui province in the Republic of Panama.

I used to grow some hops when I lived in the states. It was a vine. This plant is more like a bush. I found some of these bushes with branches 15' high.

Anyone that can point me to a source which might have more information about this suspected hops plant, I like to hear from.

thank you

 

[brian2can]

That looks awsome. How do they smell? Can you send a rhizome?

 

[cram]

It sure looks like hop cones on those plants. I, too, am curious about the aroma qualities--have you mashed up some cones in your palm and gave it a smell?

 

[BeerBeaver]

I know that Oregon State University is a leader in hop research and developed many of the popular stains we use. They are still hard at work here in town (Corvallis Oregon) as I see the hop yards in full production during the summer time. You might email them these pics and see if they can help. Its part of the Crop and Soil science department.

 

[chiriqui]

That looks awsome. How do they smell? Can you send a rhizome?

oh yeah they smell and I think on the money.. but I can't say for sure that compare to what we the states would use. I remember there being quite a range in the what hops are used, for how long when brewing.

 

[chiriqui]

I know that Oregon State University is a leader in hop research and developed many of the popular stains we use. They are still hard at work here in town (Corvallis Oregon) as I see the hop yards in full production during the summer time. You might email them these pics and see if they can help. Its part of the Crop and Soil science department.

I'll see if I can find someone there.

thanks

 

[wrench]

I don't think they are hops. The cones look very similar, but from what I can tell the leaves are all wrong. Plus, it's a shrub/tree and not a bine. There are some trees that have seed clusters that look quite a bit like hop cones when they're immature. Of course, a specific example escapes me at the moment...

Smelling and looking for the yellow resin would help solve the mystery. I would also try to find some mature/dry "cones" to see if they are actually just seed clusters.

 

[wrench]

OK, not the exact tree I was thinking of, but you get the idea... Immature seed clusters that look kinda like hop cones. These are elm. The tree I was actually thinking of had a much tighter "cone" structure.

 

[chiriqui]

I don't think they are hops. The cones look very similar, but from what I can tell the leaves are all wrong. Plus, it's a shrub/tree and not a bine. There are some trees that have seed clusters that look quite a bit like hop cones when they're immature. Of course, a specific example escapes me at the moment...

Smelling and looking for the yellow resin would help solve the mystery. I would also try to find some mature/dry "cones" to see if they are actually just seed clusters.

Hum I don't see any seeds falling out. I've made contact with OSU, indiehops.com and the comment was " now that's an interesting hop plant" The photos are being passed around. I'll keep you posted

 

[wrench]

For the record, I hope that I'm wrong and this is a hop plant. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread for an update.

 

[chiriqui]

Got this back from the plant scientists at OSU-

This plant is probably in the genera Dodonaea ("hopbush", part of the soapberry family - Sapindaceae). There are 70 or so species of Dodonaea and many produce hop cone-like flowers which have been used to make beer. It is unrelated to cultivated hop (Humulus) although they are dioecious like hop. Curiously, many (all?) of these species produce saponin, a soapy-like substance that is toxic to some extent so I find it interesting that they have been used to make beer. Perhaps, the species used in beer brewing aren't very toxic, or the saponin does not end up in beer. Who knows. Anyway, thanks for sending this along - I enjoy learning about new plants!


So be careful!
Cheers,

Jim Solberg

I've done a little searching on the web with this additional information and don't see anything yet that looks like what's in the photos I posted.

Look at the leaves on what's growing here. I accept it's probably some sort of "hops bush" but it's very different from what I'm finding so far on the internet.
Careful, the second photos shows some leaves from another plant this unidentified "hops bush" is growing amongst

 

[B-Hoppy]

Did Jim Solberg send you that info., cuz he's not a scientist.

 

[chiriqui]

Yes
It's a response from Oregon State University. He send them the first photos I posted.

I'd like to narrow this down some how to the specific plant in question, because my random selection form the 70 odd dondonea's I've googled haven't produced a plant even close to what I've posted.

 

[chiriqui]

Heather Darby
University of Vermont Extension
Agronomist and Nutrient Management Specialist

Just responded to my inquiry.

It is almost certainly Lippia oxyphyllaria (Donn.Sm.) Standl. (Verbenaceae) - a species found only in Costa Rica and Panama.

I did some searching and found this site for further information:

http://www.tropicos.org/Image/20897

It's definitely a match.

Now, could it be used in brewing? That remains to be seen, but like I said a local guy told me it was used in making beer.

 

[Jcrace]

What did you find out? I have been considering moving to Boquete and I was thinking about trying to grow hops. I was just worried about the dry/rainy season.

 

[chiriqui]

I've been cultivating and propagating this plant. I'm about to harvest. There's a fellow on the other side of the volcano from me that is microbrewing. I know all his materials are imported. So we'll see if he's interested in trying my hops

 

[Baru_Beer]

Hello,

Did you find anything out definitively? I know exactly where that bush is, but didn't notice it. I am trying to figure out if I could grow some hops in Paso Ancho....right up the road from the photo! I recognize the house in the background....right next to the soccer field, right?

 

[Lattelady]

I would like to identify this plant which I believe is hops. I asked a local farmer the name of this plant, which he could not recall but he said it's used for making beer!

I'm retired in the highlands (4700 ft) high on the side of volcano Braru, Chiriqui province in the Republic of Panama.

I used to grow some hops when I lived in the states. It was a vine. This plant is more like a bush. I found some of these bushes with branches 15' high.

Anyone that can point me to a source which might have more information about this suspected hops plant, I like to hear from.

thank you

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Did you ever find out what this is? I have one in my yard and it's at least 12 ft high and full of hops looking blossoms. I live in Chiriqui in Boquete Canyon Village