BOTANICAL CHARACTERS 87 



and the writer has even found hermaphrodite florets (i.e. with chap. 

 stamens and pistils in the same floret), but in those cases one 

 or other organ was abortive. 



Moncecism in maize facilitates cross-pollination and hybri- 

 dization, though the only other species with which maize can 

 hybridize, as lar as we are aware, is the Mexican Teosinte, 



Fiu. 31. — Young ear with fully developed silk. 



Euchlcena mexicana (Fig. 10), of which hybrids have been ob- 

 tained by Harshberger. 



71. Barrett Plants. — One of the causes of low yield of 

 grain is the occurrence of barren plants, i.e. plants which 

 though bearing tassels produce no ears, or ears without grain. 

 Cases are reported from America of 60 per cent of barren 



