156 



PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 



Description. Maize is a summer annual and is dependent upon man 

 for its reproduction, not sowing itself from seed, as a wild plant (Fig. 65). 

 Its root system is fibrous, but in addition there are aerially developed prop 

 roots which soon become fixed in the soil. The stem of corn is solid with 

 the closed, collateral sap-bundles scattered in a cross-sectional view. Fre- 

 quently corn produces suckers which correspond with the stools of wheat. 

 Suckers of corn are undesirable, as they are heavy soil feeders and reduce 

 the yield through nonproduction of ears. The leaves are two ranked 

 with large, broad blades at the base of which is a conspicuous membran- 



FIG. 65. Field of maize at Sea Girt, N. J., August 23, 1919. 



ous ligule, or rain-guard. Corn is monoecious. The pistillate flowers 

 are borne in a spike, or ear, surrounded by the bases of transformed leaves, 

 or husks. The male flowers are produced in a terminal tassel. The 

 pistillate spikelets are arranged in rows along a fleshy axis, or cob. Each 

 normal pistillate spikelet has two flowers, the lower (outer) one of which is 

 abortive, but this floret is represented by the persistent lemma and palea 

 (Fig. 66). The spikelet is subtended by two glumes that are shorter 

 than the ovary, very broad and fleshy at the base, thin membranous above 

 and fringed on the edges. The lemma and palea of the fertile flower are 

 short, broad and membranous. The single ovary bears a long style, or 



