Sweet Corn

Significance of Name

Its common name is sweet corn, and its scientific name is zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa. These names are significant because there are different types of corn. Sweet corn is used to be eaten off the cob while other types of corn like dent, flint, or waxy are used for various things like corn chips, a coarse cornmeal used for grits, or baby food.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Cyperales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Zea

My Connection

When I was younger, my mom would take my brother and I to Iowa every summer for the Iowa State Fair to see our grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. My grandpa would always make sure at least one meal would have sweet corn as a side because it's my mom's favorite thing from Iowa. So, while my grandma would be inside making dinner, my brother and I would be outside on the porch shucking the corn with our grandpa. It's the only memory with my grandpa I remember since he passed away when I was 6 years old. We don't go up to Iowa anymore, but now my aunt and cousins come to St. Louis every summer with corn.

Interesting Facts

Corn was invented by humans

People in Mexico created this crop at least 7000 years ago

Corn is a vegetable, fruit, and grain

Importance of Sweet Corn Native

Corn is native to North and South America. It's important to Mexican history. Corn is big part of their cuisine. It's also big in the United States. People aren't the only ones eat corn; corn is often fed to livestock. Oil and butter can be made from corn as well.

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