What is this plant? hops maybe?

[blacksailj]

I was walking in the woods and came across these bines that look exactly like hops. The leaf structure, the sticky/prickly like stem, color, all look the same as my hops growing at home. I checked the bine where the cones would be and saw a small seed pod (shown in picture) that crumbles when you touch it. Not a single cone on the plant throughout my 2 mile hike. Does anyone have an idea what type of plant this would be? At first I got my hopes up because it covers about 1 square mile but after looking closely I don't think they are hops of any variety or even a male plant. I just don't know. Thanks folks.

 

[MrOH]

Where are you from? I saw a bunch of similar plants today in Wissahickon Park in Philadelphia today and was thinking the same thing.

 

[compact007]

looks to me like Japanese Hops, Unfortunatley they can not be used in beer making

 

[blacksailj]

I live in West Deptford NJ, but these where in the town of National Park NJ along the river. There is a place called the Dredge that is about 1 square mile shaped live a bowl that government puts the dirt when they dredge the river for the oil ships each year. It turns into a marsh land for wildlife and these plants are all through out it. I'll look into the Japanese hops. It's ashame you can't use them, that would have been a great find. Thanks

 

[blacksailj]

Yup that's what it looks like, Japanese Hops. Man what a tease.Endless field of uselessness.