which is almost identical with the venation index 3.8 of modern 
Confite Morocho. 
Camara-Hernandez made a study of the lower epidermis of a 
leaf from level 3 and found it to have all of the characteristics 
described by others: bulliform cells, long cells, silica cells, cork 
cells, and stomata. His drawing showing these typical maize 
features is reproduced in Fig. 3. 
Husks: The husks of which there were 18 specimens are 
similar to those of modern maize except that they are shorter 
on the average and have more conspicuous parallel venation. 
There is a tendency for prominent veins to alternate with 
weaker ones. This is shown especially well in the photograph 
reproduced in Plate 48A. The anastomosing venation between 
two parallel veins is not completely lacking but it is less con- 
spicuous than that usually found in the husks of modern varie- 
ties. The husks from any one level are much longer than the 
longest cobs from the same level (Fig. 4) suggesting at first 
glance that the ears were well protected against damage from 
ear worms and other insects by husks extending far beyond the 
tip of the ear. An almost intact husk system from level 3, 
however, indicates that the ears may have been exposed at 
maturity. The shank of this particular specimen had four inter- 
Fig. 4. Diagram of a husk system found in level 
. 3. The uppermost internode of this specimen was mis- 
/\\ sing but a shred of its rind measuring 80 mm. remained 
| | | showing that the peduncle of the ear must have been at 
| | | least this long. The diagram of the cob is based on the 
| | longest cob found in this same level. The long peduncle 
) | | suggests that the ear borne in such a husk system might 
| | | have been exposed at maturity and capable of dispers- 
\ J} | ing its seeds although enclosed and protected while 
young. The second internode from the base shows the 
[| scar of a branch which once must have been attached at 
| this point and which bore a second ear. The general 
| | structure of husk systems suchas these and the fact that 
| | the two outer husks are somewhat differentiated from 
\L the inner, raises the question whether in primitive 
| maize a husk system bearing two ears might have been 
| | the homolog of the staminate spikelets bearing two 
4 florets. One-half actual size. 
25) 
