MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN 



159 



very close together. The' number of nodes in the ear- 

 ^hank is the same as in the main-stem above the ear.^ At 

 each node on the ear-shank a leaf is produced. These 

 leaves are modified to form the husk or covering of the ear 

 (Fig. 22). Corn ears vary in size from one inch in length 

 in some of the varieties of pop-corn, to sixteen inches in 

 some of the flint varieties. The number of rows of kernels 

 on an ear may vary from 4 to 48. The most common varia- 

 tion is from 4 to 12 inches in length and from 8 to 24 rows 

 of kernels. The number of ears to the plant varies with the 

 variety and with seasonal conditions. With most varieties 

 one or two ears to the plant are produced, although the 

 tendency to produce several ears to the plant is quite 

 marked in some of the varieties of pop-cqrn and sweet 

 corn. The development of the ear 

 is discussed in the next chapter. 



201. The kernels. — The corn 

 kernel is characterized by its 

 large size as compared with the 

 kernels of other cereals. It also 

 possesses a 'very characteristic 

 shape, being flattened, usually 

 triangular, and having no crease 

 or furrow on the side opposite 

 the embryo. The most common 

 colors exhibited by corn kernels 

 are white and yellow, though 

 red, blue, and mixed white and 

 red (strawberry) colored kernels are rather common 



The corn kernel is composed of the embryo, the endo- 

 sperm, the aleurone layer, and the hull (Fig. 23). The em- 

 bryo contains the young plant which is made up of the rad- 

 1 Montgomery, E. G., " The Com Crops," p. 37. 



Fig. 23. — Botanical parts 

 of the corn kernel and its 

 integuments: a, embryo; 

 b, mature ovary; c, second 

 glume; d, first glume; 

 e, palea;/, lemma; g, ster- 

 ile palea. 



