320 WEATHERWAX: THE EVOLUTION OF MAIZE 
fall prostrate, take root at the nodes, and send up branches, 
becoming almost if not quite perennial at times. 
Male inflorescence——The male panicle (Fic. 20) resembles 
that of maize in appearance. The lateral spikes are so much 
alike in the two that a close examination is necessary to reveal 
any difference; but the central spike, which is characteristic of 
maize, is lacking in teosinte. All the branches (Fic. 21) of the 
teosinte tassel are dorsoventral, and it is probable that they are 
all morphologically lateral, the true end of the axis being not 
in any one rachis but between the bases of the uppermost two. 
This is further supported by the fact that all the tassel branches, 
including that (or those) apparently occupying a 
central position, are jointed at their bases (Fic. 23), 
which is not true of the central spike of the tassel of 
maize (Fic. 22). This organ seems merely to have 
failed to develop in teosinte. Following anthesis, 
the rachids become brittle, easily separating at the 
nodes. 
The male spikelet is much like that of maize. 
The same parts are present, including the rudi- 
mentary pistils, and, in so far as has been observed, 
there is no significant difference in the development 
or the final form of the two. The pollen and pol- 
lination are as in maize. : 
Female inflorescence—The female inflorescence 
is usually a single spike (Fic. 24), enclosed in the 
sheath of a single leaf, which often has a ligule and 
a short lamina (Fic. 25). Many of these shoots, 
each borne on a short stem in the axil of a leaf, 
may be enclosed in the sheath of a larger leaf of 
the main stem, and the silks, protruding from the 
sheath, give the whole the appearance of a young 
ear of maize (Fic. 26). This whole structure is 
the equivalent of an ear-bearing shoot of maize, 
having branches of the third, fourth, or higher orders, but with 
the characteristic female spike of teosinte, instead of an ear, 
borne on each branch. ; 
The female spike has received the most unsatisfactory treat- 
Fic. 24. A 
female spike of 
teosinte. 
