Definition

Noun 1. A tall annual plant native to the southwestern United States: This plant is scientifically valued as a green manure crop for improving soil and is a historical source of a strong, durable fiber. 2. A source of bast fiber: The plant yields a tough fiber from its inner bark (bast) that was traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of the Americas for making cords and ropes.

Usage

• As a common noun: The term is used to identify the specific plant species, often in agricultural, botanical, or historical contexts.
  • Farmers planted Colorado river hemp to enrich the soil before the main crop.
  • The museum displayed ropes made from Colorado river hemp by ancient cultures.

Advanced Usage

• In historical/ethnobotanical context: The term specifically highlights the plant's traditional use by Native American tribes as a material for cordage, emphasizing its cultural and practical importance.
  • The study focused on the processing techniques used to extract fiber from Colorado river hemp.

Variants and Related Words

• Scientific name: (or sometimes ). This is the precise botanical classification for the plant commonly called Colorado river hemp.
• Colorado River Hemp (capitalized): The term is often capitalized as it derives from a proper noun (the Colorado River).

Synonyms

• Hemp sesbania: Another common name for the same plant species.
• Coastal hemp: A regional name sometimes used.
• Green manure crop: Describes its primary agricultural function.

Notes

• Not true hemp: It is important to note that Colorado river hemp is not related to true hemp (). The name "hemp" is used due to the similar utility of its fibrous stalk.
• Regional specificity: The common name directly references the Colorado River region of the southwestern United States, indicating its native habitat.

Noun

1. tall-growing annual of southwestern United States widely grown as green manure; yields a strong tough bast fiber formerly used by Indians for cordage