Biology

Teosinte

The ancestor to modern day maize was teosinte, a wild flowering plant in the grass family. Maize specifically came from a single domestication event of the teosinte subspecies Zea mays spp. parviglumis, more commonly known as the Balsa teosinte, native to the tropical Central Balsas River Valley in South Central Mexico.

Teosinte vs Maize

Short, Bushy, Plant with multiple kernels leaves.

Ears are 2-3 inches long with 5-12 kernels.

Kernels have a hard outer shell.

Single stalk plant with 1 larger kernel.

Ears are12 inches long with 500+ kernels.

Kernels have paper-thin, translucent tissue.

Taxonomy of Maize

Taxon Scientific name and common name

Kingdom Plantae (plants)

Subkingdom Tracheobionta (vascular plants)

Superdivision Spermatophyta (seed plants)

Division Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)

Class Liliopsida (monocotyledons)

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae / Gramineae (grass family)

Tribe Andropogoneae

Genus Zea L.

Species Zea mays L.

General Facts

Corn is a monoecious plant that reproduces sexually. It is also protandric, which means the male, pollen releasing, parts of the plant develop before the female parts of the plant. Generally, fertilization is done by the wind, although some species of bees also help with pollination.

There are 4 major types of corn:

Flint Corn - The kernels have a glassy outer shell, and hard endosperm surrounding soft inner tissue. These are mainly grown in South America

Dent Corn - These kernels have hard endosperm on the sides and base and soft starch in the remainder. This is mainly used for animal feed.

Sweet Corn - Grain has more sugar than starch, which gives the corn a sweet taste. This corn is primary consumed by humans.

Popcorn - Kernels have a hard endosperm and a small amount of starch content.

The Northern Flint Corn and the Cornbelt Dent Corn are the most used types for hybridization, because these who types can produce a high yeild.

Flint Corn

Dent Corn

Sweet Corn

Popcorn (kernels only)