VIRGINIAN HEMP, in botany, a genus of the dicotyledon order, belonging to the pentandria clasps of plants; and, in the Natural Order, associating with the Seabrida (53). The characters are: In the male, the calyx is a perianthium consisting of five leaves, ovate, concave, acute, and membranous on the margin. No corolla. The filaments consist of five very short capillary filaments; the antherae are versatile, two-celled, and forked at both ends.—Female on a separate plant; of which the calyx consists of an involucrum many-leaved, linear, and deciduous; and a perianthium two-leaved, very small, and persistent. No corolla. The pistillum has an ovate germen; the styli are five, long, reflected, and downy; the stigmata are simple. The pericarpium is an egg-shaped fruit, compressed, many-angled, succulent, and covered with a succulent calyx. The seed is solitary, round, and compressed. There is only one species of it, viz., the acnida cannabina. It is a native of Virginia; but rarely cultivated in Europe, except for the sake of variety. It has little beauty, and at present is applied to no useful purpose.