2004 



ZAUSCHNEKIA 



*/ 4 -2 ft.: Ivs. linear to ovate, V*-\V* in. long, glabrous, 

 pubescent or tomentose: fls. scarlet or vermilion, the 

 trumpet-shaped calyx 1% in. long: calyx-lobes ovate 

 petals^ obco/date, spreading: fr. 



4493. F. 8.4:404. 

 P. M. 15: 195. P. 

 1847-48:241. Gn. 

 31, p. 29; 31:578. 

 K.H. 1849:141. 



W. M. 



Z A (an old 

 Greek name for 

 some common cere- 

 al, probably spelt). 

 Graminece. As now 

 limited the genus 

 is founded upon the 

 single polymor- 

 phous cultivated 

 species Zea Mays, 

 Maize or Indian 

 Corn (Figs. 2772, 

 2773), whose origin 

 is unknown but is 

 suspected by some 

 to be Teosinte (Eu- 

 chlcena Mexicana). 

 Most of the evi- 

 dence points to 

 Mexico as the re- 

 gion in which it 

 originated and from 

 which it spread. 

 Under the head of 

 Corn are given the 

 botanical charac- 

 ters of the genus, 

 a classification of 

 subspecies of Zea 

 Mays, and a dis- 

 cussion of Sweet 

 Corn and Pop Corn. 

 A picture of a stam- 

 inate flower is given 

 in connection with 

 the article Grass 

 (Fig. 984, p. 683). 

 Hackel ("The True 

 Grasses ") explains 

 the fructification of 

 Maize as follows: 

 "The pistillate 

 spikes (originally 

 by monstrous or 

 teratological devel- 

 opment? )are grown 

 together into a 

 spongy, continu- 

 ous, club - shaped 

 body (the cob) upon 

 which the 4-11 dou- 

 ble rows (each ses- 

 sile upon a low 

 longitudinal eleva- 

 tion that is limited 



by a long, shallow furrow on each side) correspond to 

 a single spike of Euchlaena. Grain developed at the 

 expense of the other parts, projecting beyond the thin 

 bracts, which rarely become coriaceous and inclose it." 

 Fig. 2773. The staminate flowers are in the "tassel." 



Dent or Field Corn (Z. indentata, of Sturtevant). The 

 bulk of the Corn raised for home use and for export be- 

 longs to this subspecies. It is characterized by the 

 presence of horny or corneous endosperm along the 

 sides of the grain, while the starchy endosperm extends 

 to the summit. In drying, the floury portion shrinks 

 more than the horny, and this gives rise to the dent at the 

 summit. Both the horny and the floury portion of 

 the endosperm consist of starch, but the former is more 

 compact. The varieties vary greatly in size of plants 

 and appearance of the ear, but in general the plant and 



3772. Indian Corn Zea Mays. 



ZEA 



the ear are both larger than the Sweet or Flint Corns. 

 The color of the kernels varies, the chief color varieties 

 being white, yellow, and calico, the latter mottled with 

 red; red varieties are less common, but red ears occa- 

 sionally occur in all varieties. 



Flint Corn (Z. indurata, Sturt.). Kernel with horny 

 endosperm enveloping a starchy or floury portion, this 

 being hard and flinty and with no dent at apex. Ears 

 in most varieties smaller and rows fewer (often 8) than 

 in the Dent Corn. Color of kernel white, yellow, red, 

 blue, and variegated. Commonly cultivated through the 

 northern portions of our country and in Canada, where 

 the seasons are too short for Dent Corn. Has been 

 grown as far north as 50. 



Soft Corn (Z. amylacea, Sturt.). Kernels without 

 horny or corneous endosperm, hence shrinking uni- 

 formly. Seems to have been commonly grown by the 

 Indians in many localities of both North and South 

 America. At present it is cultivated to only a limited 

 extent in the United States. Brazilian Flour Corn sold 

 by seedsmen is a type of the Soft Corn. 



Pod Corn (Z. tunicata, Sturt.) is sometimes grown as 

 a curiosity. Each kernel is inclosed in a small husk and 

 the whole ear again inclosed in the usual husk. 



A form of Flint Corn with variegated leaves goes 

 under the name of Zea Japonica, or Japanese striped 

 Corn. Z. quadricola and Z. gracillima are seedsmen's 

 names for other similar forms, the former being varie- 

 gated and the latter dwarf. 



For cultural account, see Corn. ^_ ^_ HITCHCOCK. 



2773. Ear or pistillate spike of Maize. 



The husks are a kind of involucre. Each kernel repre- 

 sents a flower. The " silks" are styles. 



The origin of Maize is still a mystery. All evidence 

 points to an American nativity, but the original form of 

 the species is not identified. Many persons believe that 

 the wild original will yet be found somewhere from 

 Mexico south. Others suppose that Maize originated 



