CORN 



231 



Corn (Zea Mays) (Fig. 151) is not typical of the grass 

 family; the stem is solid and the flower is imperfect and mo- 

 noecious. The staminate flowers are borne in two-flowered spike- 

 lets which are in turn borne on the long spikes constituting the 

 tassel; the pistillate flowers are borne on a large spike (cob), 

 each having a long, delicate, thread-like pistil (silk) and the 

 entire ear enclosed in the large bracts (husks). The fruit 



1 



FIG. 151. Corn showing both pistillate and staminate flowers. 



consists of the grain inclosed in the ovary ; many of these fruits 

 are arranged in rows on the cob and constitute the ear. This 

 very important plant undoubtedly originated in America and 

 was first introduced into Europe by Columbus in 1520. It is 

 now extensively cultivated in temperate and tropical countries. 

 There are a great many varieties of corn, but they are usu- 

 ally classified in six groups as follows: (1) the pod corns, in 

 which each grain has a peculiar shuck covering, (2) the pop 



