''Datisca cannabina'', called false hemp, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''

Datisca The Datiscaceae are a family of dicotyledonous plants, containing two species of the genus ''Datisca''. Two other genera, ''Octomeles'' and ''Tetrameles'', are now classified in the family Tetramelaceae. Datiscaceae are large herbaceous plants, ...

'', family

Datiscaceae The Datiscaceae are a family of dicotyledonous plants, containing two species of the genus ''Datisca''. Two other genera, ''Octomeles'' and ''Tetrameles'', are now classified in the family Tetramelaceae. Datiscaceae are large herbaceous plants, ...

, native to the Aegean Islands, Crete, Cyprus, Anatolia, the Levant, the Transcaucasus, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the western Himalayas and Nepal. It is one of the very few species known to have true

androdioecy Androdioecy is a reproductive system characterized by the coexistence of males and hermaphrodites. Androdioecy is rare in comparison with the other major reproductive systems: dioecy, gynodioecy and hermaphroditism. In animals, androdioecy has ...

, meaning it has a mix of male and hermaphroditic individuals. This tall herbaceous perennial grows to a maximum height and spread of , with

ash Ash is the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash is the ...

-like clusters of bright green leaves, and arching shoots covered in tassels of small green and white flowers during summer. It is

hardy Hardy may refer to: People * Hardy (surname) * Hardy (given name) * Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica * Mount Hardy, Enderby Land * Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island * Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands Australia * Hardy, ...

but prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade. Local artisans use its roots to produce a fast yellow dye. File:Datisca cannabina 001.JPG, Growth form File:Datisca cannabina.jpg, Top File:Datisca cannabina fruits.jpg, In fruit File:Datisca cannabina seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg, Seeds

References

Datiscaceae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Plants described in 1753 {{Cucurbitales-stub