102 



MAIZE 



CHAP, less cylindrical or tapering core, the cob, bearing from 4 to 48 

 rows of immature grains or carpels (Fig. 46). 



Though the maize ear has a solid core, it is in reality made 

 up of two or more connate, two-rowed spikes which have 

 grown together, or failed to separate, during their early de- 



Fig. 4g. — Branched ear of Hickory 

 King. 



Fig. 50. — Branched ear of 



Ladysmith. 



velopment. Each spike bears at the nodes two two-flowered 

 spikelets, as on the tassel, but the lower floret of each spikelet 

 is abortive, leaving only a pair of carpels to develop at each 

 node ; this accounts for the uniformity in the development of 

 rows of grain in pairs. Lobed and branched ears are fre- 

 quently met with (Figs. 47, 48, 49, and 50). 



